Signs of postnatal depression as GPs to offer more mental health support for mothers after birth

Marie-Claire Dorking
·Contributor
·5-min read
New mum with her baby. Women are to receive more support for postnatal depression. (Getty Images)
New mums are to receive more mental health support from GPs to help spot signs of postnatal depression. (Getty Images)

New mums in England are to receive more comprehensive mental health support from their GP in the weeks after they give birth, new NHS guidance has revealed.

GPs will carry out the postnatal check-up six to eight weeks after women give birth covering a range of topics such as mental wellbeing and physical recovery.

The move is part of a drive by NHS England to improve support for women suffering postnatal depression or other mental health problems linked to their pregnancy or childbirth.

Under the new guidance doctors will ask women more questions than before about their mental wellbeing when they attend their postnatal health check.

They will look for any sign that a new mum may be experiencing a condition such as postnatal depression. as a result of experiencing a traumatic birth or psychosis induced by bearing a child.

Anyone who is believed to need help with their mental health will be referred to specialist maternal mental health services, which the NHS says has been expanded in recent years.

Over the past year, over 53,000 new mothers received specialist perinatal mental health support.

Commenting on the new measure health and social care secretary Victoria Atkins says: "Mothers should be supported after giving birth. This includes being able to get the mental and physical health support needed for a healthy recovery – while giving new-borns the best start in life.

"The postnatal check provides an important opportunity for GPs to listen to women in a discrete, supportive environment.

"This builds on part of a wider scheme of support – including making new maternal mental health services available across all areas of England by March 2024 and £25 million to expand women’s health hubs".

New mum playing with her baby. (Getty Images)
Many new mums experience mental health issues after giving birth and during pregnancy. (Getty Images)

Common symptoms of postnatal depression

The NHS says postnatal depression is a type of depression that parents can have after having a baby.

While as many as eight out of 10 women get what's known as the 'baby blues', women who become more unhappy or upset, or have symptoms that last over a week, may have postnatal depression. Recent statistics reveal postnatal depression affects one in 10 new mothers.

The main symptoms, according to the health service include:

  • feeling sad, low or tearful much of the time

  • feeling agitated or irritable towards your partner, baby or other children

  • loss of interest in the world around you and no longer enjoying things that used to give you pleasure (like you "cannot be bothered")

  • lack of energy and feeling tired all the time

  • trouble sleeping at night – you may be awake even when your baby is sleeping

  • feeling very sleepy during the day

  • problems concentrating and making decisions

  • loss of appetite or overeating

  • negative thoughts such as feeling you are not a good enough mother, you are unable to look after your baby or your baby does not love you

  • feelings of guilt, hopelessness and self-blame

  • feeling anxious that something bad may happen to your baby

  • problems bonding with your baby, no sense of enjoyment in being with them

Watch: Zoe Tapper says she didn't get the support she needed for postnatal depression 12 years ago

Spotting the signs in others

Postnatal depression can develop gradually and it can be hard to recognise. Some parents may avoid talking to family and friends about how they're feeling because they worry they'll be judged for not coping.

The NHS has put together some signs for partners, family and friends to look out for in new parents, which include:

  • frequently crying for no obvious reason

  • having difficulty bonding with their baby, looking after them only as a duty and not wanting to play with them

  • withdrawing from contact with other people

  • speaking negatively all the time and saying that they're hopeless

  • neglecting themselves, such as not washing or changing their clothes

  • losing their sense of humour

  • constantly worrying that something is wrong with their baby, regardless of reassurance

New mum talking to her doctor. (Getty Images)
New measures hope to help GPs spot signs new mums may be suffering from a mental health condition. (Getty Images)

Related conditions

Of course postnatal depression is not the only way new mums' mental health can be impacted, there are also a number of other mental health conditions, which can develop after giving birth (as well as during pregnancy).

The NHS says these include:

  • anxiety disorders – including generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder.

  • obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) – intrusive, unwanted and unpleasant thoughts, images or urges that repeatedly enter a person's mind, causing them anxiety and leading to repetitive behaviours.

  • postpartum psychosis – this is a combination of bipolar-like symptoms (feeling "high" or "on top of the world" or feeling depressed), delusions and hallucinations.

Treatment for postnatal depression

Speak to a GP, midwife or health visitor as soon as possible if you think you might have postnatal depression or depression during pregnancy (antenatal depression).

The three main types of treatment are:

  • self-help

  • talking therapy

  • antidepressants

Where to go for help

There are a number of national support groups that you can contact for advice including:

You can also search for local support groups and find details of national telephone or email support lines on the Maternal Mental Health Alliance website.

Maternal mental health: Read more 

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