How will you know if you have postnatal depression?

Postnatal depression can affect women differently. For some it can start almost immediately post delivery, while for others it might develop gradually over the first year. The first few signs that really give away the feeling of 'baby blues' is anxiety, being tearful, or feeling low. And if these last longer than two weeks, it is probably because of postpartum depression. Bear in mind that just like depression, a women who goes through this also feels low, loses interest in things around her- even her baby (sometimes especially her baby), crying for no apparent reason, is irritable and apathetic to the baby, and/or gets frightening thoughts about hurting her baby. If you come across any of these symptoms, the first thing to do is confide in your partner and speak to a GP. Sometimes, these can also be signs of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), or PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). My suggestion is to always be mindful of your emotions- good or bad, and don't just push them under the rug.