Postnatal depression: watching for the signs

Although having a new baby is a joyful and exciting experience, it’s common to feel up and down after birth. For example, you might feel stressed and overwhelmed as you and your partner learn how to look after your new baby – probably while coping with a lack of sleep and much less time to yourselves.

But postnatal depression is more than stress or tiredness – it lasts longer than a few days and can be a serious mental health problem.

This is why it’s important to watch out for the signs of postnatal depression in your partner. These signs might include changes in your partner’s emotions and thinking, behaviour and social life, and general physical wellbeing. And if your partner seems to be in a low mood or has lost interest in things she’d normally enjoy, you should take this very seriously.

Talking with your partner often and asking how she’s feeling will help you both be aware of any changes.

If the emotional changes in your partner go on for longer than two weeks and get in the way of daily life, you need to help your partner get professional advice.

Getting professional support for postnatal depression

Postnatal depression can take a long time to go away without professional help. Early professional support can help your partner recover from postnatal depression sooner.

There are many people and services who can help your partner and family with postnatal depression:

• your GP
• your child and family health nurse
• your obstetrician or midwife
• your local community health centre
• local mental health services.

You can also call the PANDA National Helpline on 1300 726 306 for counselling and assistance.

Supporting your partner with postnatal depression

In addition to helping your partner get professional support, you can give her support in lots of other ways as well.

Emotional support
It’s common for new mothers to feel emotional as they go through the physical and practical changes of pregnancy and birth. You can give your partner a lot of support just by listening to her and reassuring her that things will get better.

Also, looking after a new baby is a big job. It’s demanding and tiring. So it’s really important to talk with your partner about how she’s feeling and to let her know that you appreciate what a great job she’s doing. You can also acknowledge that she might be tired. For example, you might say, ‘Thanks for caring for our baby. I know it’s hard and you’re really tired, and I appreciate everything you’re doing’.

There might be some setbacks while your partner and health professional learn what treatments work best for her. You can reassure your partner that setbacks are part of the process, and that you’ll support her as she overcomes them.

Practical support
All new parents need practical help and support, especially parents who are experiencing postnatal depression.

You can do a lot to help your partner in practical ways during this time:

• Take on extra housework, making sure you have plenty of groceries in the house and doing extra baby care jobs. If you can do household chores without being asked to, it means your partner doesn’t have to worry about them at all.
• Keep your partner company. Quality couple and family time will help her recover. You can do things together like cooking meals or going for walks. If you can’t be there as much as you’d like, you can arrange for someone else to be around. It should be someone your partner feels comfortable spending time with, like a relative or close friend.
• Accept help from family and friends. You can also let people know that your family needs extra support right now and suggest what they can do to help. People often appreciate being asked for something specific.
• Help your partner with her appointments. For example, you can arrange her appointments, drive her to appointments, go to appointments with her, arrange child care and so on.
• Do your research. The more you learn about postnatal depression, the better you’ll be able to support your partner. You can ask health professionals for more information.
• Celebrate when your partner makes progress in her recovery. For example, if you notice that your partner is taking fewer days off work, do something special like making her breakfast in bed or giving her a gift.

Your partner might feel guilty or feel like a burden for accepting your help. You can gently reassure your partner that her wellbeing is important to you and your family.

Looking after yourself
You might be focused on your partner’s wellbeing, but it’s also important to take time for yourself as well. If you’re emotionally and physically well, you’ll be in better shape to support your partner.

For example, you could do some physical activity by taking your baby out for a walk in the pram. This also gives your partner a little break – and possibly the chance to catch up on some much-needed sleep.

Eating healthy food helps you and your partner build the energy you need to care for your baby and support each other. It can be hard to find time to cook healthy meals, so you can buy prepared meals, soups and salads for the days when time is short. And if you have time, it’s a good idea to prepare and freeze some healthy meals for the days and weeks ahead.

Supporting a partner with depression can cause strain in your relationship and can affect your own wellbeing. It can help to share how you’re feeling with a relative, friend or health professional. You can also call the PANDA National Helpline on 1300 726 306 or MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78.