Issue link: https://www.hub.camaf.co.za/i/595176
dEPrESSion Many mothers begin to feel depressed, increasingly despondent and hopeless soon after the baby is born. they may feel very sad for no particular reason and may find that they spend a large part of any particular day in tears. Sometimes the mother may feel rejected by her partner, family, friends, or even by the new baby; these feelings usually have no foundation. Women with PND (Post Natal Depression) are more than just a bit "down". The depression is likely to be accompanied by a lot of crying, an inability to feel joyful or enthusiastic about anything, and feelings of despair and helplessness. it is not a feeling you can "snap out of". • Feeling sad; suicidal thinking • Feeling overwhelmed with fatigue • Feeling hopeless/helpless • Feeling guilty • Feeling lonely, abandoned and unsupported • Feeling no love for your newborn baby • Forgetfulness, indecisiveness AnXiEty the anxiety can be quite intense and ongoing, almost as if the nervous system is in a constant state of alarm. women can feel 'driven', unable to sit down or rest even when the baby is asleep. Some women experience panic attacks (racing heart, perspiring, feeling terror) which come on with no prior warning and may happen in a public place such as the supermarket. this can lead to women becoming increasingly reluctant to leave the security of their home. Anxiety may take the form of unjustified worries about the health and well-being of other members of the family, especially the baby. • Feeling anxious most of the time • Fear of harming yourself; the baby or others • Fear of being alone or going out, obsessive anxiety over health of oneself, baby or partner • Panic attacks • Frightening thoughts that you/the baby/ your partner are not safe. POSTNATAL ANXIETY / PANIC diSordEr • Difficulty concentrating and remembering • Difficulty making decisions • Difficulty completing simple tasks such as doing the dishes or the laundry • Insomnia • Exhaustion • Loss of appetite • Suicidal thoughts • Anxiety/panic attacks A panic attack may be described as a discreet episode of intense fear reaching its peak intensity within 10 minutes from onset. it is often associated with or accompanied by feelings of impending doom. You will experience at least four of these symptoms during an attack: • Shortness of breath • Choking or smothering sensation • Palpitations or accelerated heart rate • Chest pain and discomfort • Sweating • Faintness • Dizziness, light-headedness or unsteady feeling CHAPTER 2: SyMPtoMS And FEELingS 10