Postnatal Depression

Postnatal Depression

“Postnatal depression is the name given to depression that develops between one month and up to one year after the birth of a baby. It affects about 1 in every 7 women who give birth in Australia each year.

All parents go through a period of adjustment as they try to handle the huge changes a baby brings. For most people, this time of adjustment will be temporary and will not be overly distressing.

Many women experience the ‘baby blues’ in the first few days after having a baby.

The baby blues usually only last 2 to 3 days and you might feel teary, anxious and moody during that time.

The support of your partner, family and friends is usually enough to help you get through it.

When these feelings last beyond these early days and continue to get worse, it may be a sign of developing depression.”

- www.healthdirect.gov.au

On the arrival of a new baby to the family, with it comes the expectations of how you imagine you will be as the mother to this bundle of joy. When your expectations do not happen as you hoped and planned, a sense of failure as a mother can emerge in you. This self-judgement can become debilitating and is often suffered in silence. It is also one of many challenges to overcome during the adjustment phase of caring for your baby.

We offer therapy that will help you to identify your needs separate from the emerging needs of the baby. We also provide skills training and techniques to express these individual needs to your loved ones to enhance support during this adjustment. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way in this transition to motherhood and certainly no need to be isolated during the process.

Medicare rebates are available with a GP Mental Health Care Plan. Private Health Fund rebates may apply (no referral required).

Contact Us

(08) 9341 7981