Postnatal depression

There are no signs of an increase in depression during pregnancy. However, quite a lot of women experience insecurity and emotional instability in connection with their pregnancy, especially after giving birth. In a few cases, fathers can feel the same just before or after the birth.

Between 20% and 40% of all women feel emotionally unbalanced after giving birth. When you have just given birth, both your body and mind need to get use to a completely new situation. You can become irritable and tearful. You may feel very unhappy, and may also feel that you miss the support and help from those closest to you.

These feelings often last only for a few days. However, in approximately one in every ten women, these feelings can develop into an actual depressive episode, which will have to be treated. If you are depressed, you will find it difficult to look after your newborn baby and develop a good mother/child relationship. This may then cause you to feel guilty, which in turn can contribute to prolonging the depression. It is therefore important to start treatment for postnatal depression quickly.