Postnatal depression and anxiety can be a scary and isolating experiences as parents try to cope with their mental health concerns while needing to care for their baby. Research indicates that 16% of new mothers experience postnatal depression, and that some fathers will also experience clinical depression at this time. Significantly, depression in the mother is associated with increased experience of depression in the partner. Postnatal anxiety is also a common reason women and their families can benefit from professional support.
Forest for the Trees Perinatal Psychology are Clinical Psychologists based in Newcastle, and we are here to support you if you are experiencing postnatal depression. Our goal is to help you be the best parent you can be and assist you in meeting your baby’s needs as well as your own needs during this critical time. Women often comment that they thought parenting would be much easier than it is in reality. It is natural to have fantasies about parenthood, and expectations about what your baby will be like, and to experience discrepancies between these expectations and reality. The period of adjustment for parents varies from person to person, and some people benefit from support at this time.
The task of caring for a small human being can be utterly overwhelming at times, particularly if there are issues around feeding and sleeping or the baby has a medical condition. Parents who are more perfectionistic or highly organised/planned are more prone to feeling out of control, which is a common feature in postnatal anxiety and depression. There is evidence to suggest that relationships are under the most pressure during this stage of life, in which couples have babies and young children, so it is not surprising that relationship issues are very common during the postnatal period. Another risk factor for developing emotional difficulties is having limited social support, and this is particularly problematic for those who live away from their families, or have lost their parent/s or have a strained relationship with their family.
As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and Forest for the Trees Perinatal Psychology can be a part of your village. We are here to support you through the challenges in your new role as a parent.
Common reasons for seeking support after having a baby:
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed
Postnatal depression
Postnatal anxiety
Adjustment to parenthood
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Babies that are unsettled, unwell or have feeding difficulties
Lack of enjoyment in parenting
Relationship issues
Fathers/partners experiencing depression or anxiety
If you are in need of support after having your baby, please contact us at Forest for the Trees Perinatal Psychology Newcastle.