Post Natal Depression

As I said in my last blog, some form of anxiety affects approximately 80% of all mothers in the weeks leading up to or following giving birth. According to Beyond Blue (http://www.beyondblue.org.au), one in 10 mothers experiences antenatal depression and 7 out of 10 mothers experience postnatal depression (which is why a far more appropriate term is "perinatal depression".) For some this gradually develops: for others it happens very suddenly and without apparent warning.

Various authorities nominate indicators that you should look out for including:

• low self esteem and lack of confidence
• feelings of inadequacy and guilt
• negative thoughts
• feeling that life is meaningless
• feeling unable to cope
• tearfulness and irritability
• difficulty in sleeping or changes in sleeping patterns
• low sex drive
• anxiety, panic attacks, or heart palpitations
• loss of appetite
• difficulty concentrating or remembering things

These symptoms are not unique to baby blues or perinatal depression. They may indicate something quite different - and that is why discussing them with your medical practitioner or other health professionals is so important. The important thing to understand is that symptoms like these should not be ignored. The earlier you seek help, the more likely it is that things return to normal quite quickly.

For more information about me and how I may be able to help you. see http://www.angelalong.com.au

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Baby Blues

Statistically about 300,000 women in Australia will give birth in the next 12 months. Of these, 80% - approximately 250,000 women - will suffer from the "Baby Blues". Of these, about 45,000 women will then go on to experience perinatal depression and need some form of medical treatment and possibly hospitalisation. These are staggering statistics.

No woman should ever feel embarrassed about experiencing "baby blues". As the figures show, the vast majority of women go through some form of this in the first few days and weeks after giving birth. The important thing is to recognise the symptoms, acknowledge the reality of your experience, and seek support - which is available in every State and Territory of Australia as well as from many private organisations such as The Tresillian Centre, The Gidget Foundation (http://www.gidgetfoundation.com.au/), and Mothers for Mothers (http://www.m-for-m.com.au/) as well as most Baby Centres.

Reasons why you might experience this include:

• feeling anxious because your sleep is disturbed and/or if you are worried (money worries are a common problem)
• feeling anxious about how your partner will react to baby and/or feeling anxious about your relationship with your partner
• feeling a sense of loss that the woman you once knew has gone and you'd like her to come back
• the demands of your home life and the extra responsibilities of caring for baby create a pressure that you have difficulty removing
• a loss of social contacts and support including, perhaps, a feeling of isolation from support systems in your wider family such as your mother and sisters

Tears and widely fluctuating emotions are normal during this period. Don't be ashamed of them and don't hide them. Joining a mothers group at this stage can be wonderful. Other mothers know how you feel - most have been there themselves - and they will willingly give you support.

Your doctor and other medical professionals will also be able to help you. In addition, try to find time for yourself - time when you can just relax and refresh - as well as accepting every possible offer from your family and friends for help whether its for washing, ironing, folding clothes, cooking meals, cleaning or anything else. Most people who offer, genuinely want to help in some way and they are trying to show you that they care. Keep up your hobbies and interests as much as possible.

Remember, the great majority of women go through this and go on to be happy, successful mothers with wonderful babies. Only a relative few go on to need extended professional help.

For more information about me and how I may be able to help you, see http://www.angelalong.com.au/

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More on Bottle Feeding

A common question I get about bottle feeding relates to having the milk at the right temperature for baby. I also get asked about babies and wind.

Always remember when bottle feeding to test on the inside of your wrist the temperature of the milk. It should be just warm - roughly at body temperature.

About half-way through the bottle, stop and wind baby. Without this there is a significant chance of reflux or of baby falling asleep. Once they have "burped" and are again awake, they are ready to finish their bottle. Also ensure you wind baby again when feeding is finished.

Check to see that baby has brought up all their wind. A clue to this is to check their upper lip. If the top half of the upper lip to the nose area is a greyish-blue then there is more "burping' to be done. Another sign of wind in very young babies is a smile around the mouth when they are asleep.

More information about me and how I may be able to help you at http://www.angelalong.com.au/

Please let me know what you think about this. Click on the comment link below.