Postnatal depression
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Having a baby is a huge life event. It’s normal to experience a range of powerful emotions while you’re pregnant and after giving birth: excitement, joy, anxiety. You may also feel depressed. It’s not a sign of weakness or anything to feel guilty about. With support and treatment, you can get better.
While most people have heard of postnatal depression, it’s also possible to experience antenatal depression while you’re pregnant. Some people experience both. The term ‘perinatal depression’ covers depression any time from getting pregnant to around a year after giving birth.
We’ve used the term ‘postnatal depression’ on this page as it’s more well known, but the symptoms and treatment for antenatal or perinatal depression are the same.
What is postnatal depression?
The ‘baby blues’ is a brief period of feeling low, emotional and tearful after giving birth. It doesn’t last for more than two weeks of giving birth.
If your symptoms last longer or start later, you could have postnatal dep...
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