It can be difficult to talk about how you are feeling and ask for help. Common reasons for this are:
you may not know what is wrong
you may feel ashamed that you are not enjoying your baby or coping as you believe you should
you may worry that your baby will be taken away.
Asking for help doesn’t mean you can’t cope or are not able to care for your child. It’s the start of getting the right help and support to ensure you can be the parent you want to be. Try talking to someone you trust (friends or family) and contact your midwife, health visitor and/or GP to discuss how you are feeling. Your health care professionals are all trained to recognise postnatal depression and will be able to offer a range of support services to help you. Women with more severe or complex illnesses, for example, severe anxiety, severe depression, psychosis and bipolar affective disorder, should be seen by a specialist perinatal mental health team.
It can be difficult to talk about how you are feeling and ask for help.
Common reasons for this are: