Had a baby? Or having one? Feeling down? Read this…..help is only one reach away
PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
Pregnancy and the first year of parenthood (the perinatal period) is indeed a special time but it can involve much adjustment in terms of changed body, routines, relationships and emotions
Hormones alter dramatically in the first few days post-partum. Many women experience the ‘baby blues’ typically 3 days after giving birth, lasting a few days, as a temporary phenomenon and not overly distressing.
The combination of physical, social and emotional changes in pregnancy may, in 1:5 new mothers and 1:10 new fathers, lead to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Prior mental health conditions, suboptimal support systems, young or single parents, or significant life stressors like
relationship/socioeconomic difficulties, a history of abuse or loss raise the risk of mental health disorders.While ups and downs are part of the childbirth process, if you feel miserable, sad, worried or anxious for longer than two weeks, it’s time to seek support and talk to a health professional/General Practitioner. The good news is that a number of effective treatments exist.
WHAT CAN MY GP DO?
The National Perinatal Depression Initiative (developed by the Australian Government Department of Health) aims to improve prevention and early detection of antenatal and postnatal depression and provide better support and treatment for expectant and new mothers experiencing depression.
routine and universal screening for depression for women during the perinatal period (once during early pregnancy and again at 4-6 weeks after the birth) by a range of health care professionals including midwives, child and maternal health nurses, general practitioners – using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
Follow-up treatment, support and care for women who are at higher risk of or experiencing perinatal depression
The GP can commence a mental health plan with referral to psychological treatment sessions, counselling services, social worker reviews, fostering better networks of support groups for new mothers, acute inpatient care and community-based care and support.
Medications and review by a psychiatrist may be an important part of the management of such patients.
There are also community services that they can refer patients to for additional support to meet their needs. Tresillian and Karitane are examples.
Tresillian services help parents navigate the challenges of early childhood, which often are part of the contributing factors for PND, including poor sleep, settling difficulties, adjustment to parenthood, breastfeeding issues. They have a range of programs including day stays, residential stays and home visits.
The Gidget foundation, is a not for profit organisation that helps to raise awareness, reduce stigma and improve outcomes for women, infants and their families, supporting the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents to ensure that those in need receive timely, appropriate and supportive care. https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/
Mind the Bump is a meditation tool that provides tailored exercises to support mental and emotional wellbeing from the start of pregnancy through to 24 months after birth. The program is for both mothers and fathers. http://www.mindthebump.org.au/
If risk of self-harm or harm to the newborn/others is identified either by the new mum or family, urgent professional help is necessary, please contact
1) PANDA National Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Helpline on 1300 726 306 (open Mondays to Fridays between 9am and 7.30pm AEST)OR
2) Your local hospital OR
3) Lifeline on 13 11 14
In conclusion mental health is just as important as physical wellbeing. For mums with PND, often the entire family is affected-including the partner, baby and other children.
QUOTES
The journey of pregnancy and childbirth reflect a variation of happy joyous moments of motherhood and the stressful challenges of having the responsibilities of a dependant baby, a changed routine and identity.
All this compounded by sleep deprivation, the constant needs of the newborn baby you are meant to instantly fall in love with, the guilt if that process is felt to be dysfunctional or inadequate, the presence of underlying mental health issues & life stressors. The peer pressure from ‘perfection perception’ of play group mums or social media sites can be overwhelming.
The sustained sadness and anxiety the new mum/dad might face at this point, is often trivialised or dismissed and not given the timely recognition or access to a health professional, plus our ethnic group obsession with ‘log kya kahen gey?’ The stigma is another reason why this condition is underreported, this is a real condition, research shows timely constructive and supportive responses including seeking professional help go a long way to restore a healthy mental state, in turn this contributes to the baby’s sense of comfort and security.
Anxiety and depression can have a devastating effect on a new family. As well as the missed opportunity for parents to experience the joy that’s expected to come with a new baby, perinatal mood disorders can affect couples adversely to the level that they feel like strangers.
Hence it is so important for the partner to play a supportive and sympathetic role, at this post partum point when women are at an emotionally vulnerable point, as well as an advocate to seek professional help if circumstances merit that.
TIPS FOR THE NEW PARENTS
Look at a parenting partnership model - parent together as a team/shared responsibilities between the new dad and mum
Don’t expect too much of yourself, it is hard to balance the demands of the new baby with the routine of housework/return to work/studies etc It is important to maintain realistic expectations in this period.
Extend your support network of positive family and friends that can assist in a practical sense with, say the other children’s needs and give you a psychological boost from their encouraging manner.
There is much research to show, the early professional input (both counselling and if needed, medications) are well worth the effort.
