Does perinatal mental health support help with low mood after birth?

Perinatal mental health support can help people manage low mood after birth. Support may include a mental health assessment, talking therapy, practical planning, partner or family involvement and medication advice when appropriate.

A perinatal team can explore sadness, loss of interest, guilt, anxiety, sleep problems and difficulty feeling connected with the baby. They can also consider physical recovery, feeding, pain, previous mental health concerns and the demands of caring for an infant. Support is tailored to symptoms and circumstances, and asking for help does not reflect a failure as a parent.

Tell a GP, midwife, health visitor or maternity service how you have been feeling, including how long symptoms have lasted and whether they affect eating, sleeping or caring for yourself. Accept practical help with meals, rest and baby care where available. Keep follow-up appointments and involve a trusted person who can notice changes and help you reach care.

Arrange an appointment for low mood that persists, worsens, or makes daily care difficult. Seek urgent help if you have thoughts of harming yourself or the baby, feel unable to stay safe, hear or see things others do not, or become unusually confused, agitated or unable to sleep. Do not stay alone while waiting for emergency support.

Could this be postnatal depression, anxiety or another condition? What therapy is available? Which medicines are compatible with feeding plans? How quickly can I be reviewed, and who should I contact outside appointments?