Spotlight on:
What causes postnatal depression?
What are the signs of postnatal depression?
How is postnatal depression treated?
Exercise and postnatal depression
Socialising and postnatal depression
Did you know that exercise has been shown to help improve mild to moderate postnatal depression? My online postnatal fitness and wellbeing programme is designed not only to keep you fit and healthy but also to connect you with other new mums so that you can support each other via the forum and on my friendly facebook page.
How about giving it a go for FREE and seeing how you find it?
Postnatal depression is a form of depression ranging from mild to severe, which can affect more than 1 in 10 postnatal women, and which usually occurs within the first year post pregnancy. It is not to be confused with the baby blues which is transitory, occurs during the first few days after delivery, and will then disappear. Postnatal depression, on the other hand, may start slowly or start suddenly but, either way, it is unlikely to go without some form of treatment, alongside self-help.
Postnatal depression is a complex problem and it is likely that there are many contributing factors to its onset:
If you or your family, friends and partner think you might have postnatal depression, then it is important to go to your GP who will screen you and then - based on the results - advise you accordingly. Signs which might indicate that you are suffering from postnatal depression include:
As mothers we all have one or more of these feels at some point but it is when many of these feelings converge and become persistent, that it is important to seek advice from a medical practitioner.
There are three approaches to treating postnatal depression and you will need to go and see your GP to be referred for the first two:
Many studies have proven that exercise lifts the mood and can be as effective as cognitive behavioural therapy and antidepressants in mild to moderate cases of postnatal depression. Here is how post natal exercise can help:
Make sure you get a copy of my FREE guide on how to keep exercise safe in the post natal period - you can download it from the top right hand corner of my page on post natal exercise.
Becoming a mother is not only a huge shock to the system but it can also be a very isolating experience. You were probably in a work environment before you had your baby, sharing an office, interacting with lots of people. Now you find yourself at home dealing with this tiny little human being who is dependent on you. As a new mother it is incredibly important to build a network of supportive friends around you.
If you are suffering from postnatal depression it is all the more important to make sure that you get out and about with friends, whether it be for walks together, a cuppa and a chat, a post natal exercise class or one of the many fantastic baby classes on offer. Try out what’s on offer and then choose the activities which are best for YOU and which make YOU feel better, rather than choosing the activities which you imagine your baby most needs. remember that to get rid of your postnatal depression you need to put yourself first. Try and put in place a weekly schedule that gets you out of the house into sociable environments so that you don’t find yourself alone for long periods of time.
Do please join my friendly FREE Community where you will meet lots of other lovely mums, many of whom will have gone through similar experiences to yours. You can join towards the top right hand side of this page. You will also find that my facebook page is very chatty, friendly and supportive, so do join me there too.
Eating a healthy balanced diet can have an enormously positive effect on your sense of wellbeing. Here are some top foods to help you combat postnatal depression:
Just remember that a problem shared is a problem halved: go to the GP, speak to your family, tell your friends, share your thoughts on the forum. Everyone will want to take you by the hand and help you make your way towards that pinprick of light at the end of the tunnel. One day, your postnatal depression will be a distant bad memory.
Remember that exercise has been shown to help improve mild to moderate postnatal depression. My online postnatal fitness and wellbeing programme is designed not only to keep you fit and healthy but also to connect you with other new mums so that you can support each other via the forum and on my friendly facebook page.
How about giving it a go for FREE and seeing how you find it?