Postnatal Depression - Health Service Executive

Postnatal DepressionSigns and symptomshappen at any time and are very distressing.What is it?You may start to avoid situations where youexperience them, such as social activities,shopping, public places.» Sleep problemsYou may find it hard to sleep, even whenyour baby is sound asleep.» TirednessYou may feel constantly exhausted andlethargic, unable to cope with housework,looking after your baby or other tasks. Youmay have little interest in your appearance,in sex and in your surroundings.» ConcentrationYou may have trouble concentrating or feelconfused or distracted.» AppetiteYou may not feel like eating or you maycomfort eat. As a result you may lose or puton weight.» TearfulnessYou may cry often and not always forreasons you can understand.»Obsessive behaviourMeticulously tidying your home and tryingto keep up impossibly high standards istypical of this behaviour. You may haveoverwhelming fears, for example aboutdying. Some mothers have recurringthoughts about harming their baby.Very few mothers ever act on this.