Getting help for postpartum depression

Postpartum depression can involve sadness, emptiness, irritability, guilt, loss of interest, poor sleep even when the baby sleeps, appetite changes, frightening thoughts or difficulty feeling connected. It can begin during pregnancy or after birth, and it is not a sign that you are a bad parent. Low Mood After Birth and Low Sex Drive may occur alongside it, but symptoms can be different for each person.

Tell a trusted person and book an assessment with your GP, obstetrician, midwife or mental health clinician. Describe when symptoms started, sleep, appetite, intrusive thoughts, medicines and how caring for yourself or your baby is affected. Treatment may include talking therapy, practical support, medication, or a combination. A perinatal mental health service can consider feeding plans, previous mental health history and the baby's needs.

Seek urgent help if you might harm yourself or your baby, cannot care for either of you, feel detached from reality, hear or see things others do not, or have rapidly changing extreme energy and little need for sleep. Do not stay alone with these thoughts; tell someone nearby and contact emergency services or the nearest emergency department.

Ask what diagnosis fits your symptoms, which therapies are available, how medication may affect breastfeeding, how follow-up will work, and what your support person should do if symptoms suddenly worsen.