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Posted: 16 January 2006 at 2:50pm | IP Logged

Please don't feel that you have to add your name or say what you have voted on this - I don't want to pry, but would appreciate your votes. Personally, I am happy to share my experience and have been supported more than I could have thought possible by people on this site, but thats not to say everyone will feel the same - so please do feel free to be anonymous.

I am taking part in a study for Glasgow University about Post Natal Depression and one of the trends that seems to be coming out of this study is that a lot of mothers do not receive treatment for what ever reason.

The statistics have shown that between 1 in 10 and 1 in 5 new mothers experience some form of post natal depression, in varying degrees - but this is only deduced by health visitors who have referred mothers to their GP. The Edinburgh test (the questionnaire that your HV may give you about your feelings) is not used country wide and there is concern that a lot of new mothers are suffering from PND unnoticed.

If you feel that you can answer this poll, please do but if not - then don't and thats fine. I will pass the poll results back only, none of any comments that may be made will be passed on.

Thanks.

Posted: 16 January 2006 at 4:11pm | IP Logged

To make it easy for you Dizie, I will say out of 4 I have had it with 1

I had it after ds1 was born, and I know that I have been judged in the past about it, and know I won't now! I also know the reason for it!  I went through my 1st pg, 'knowing' it was a girl! I was wrong, and that was where it stemmed from!  I have learnt not to plan the sex even though i was told with Fred it was a boy I never bought colour stuff until after he was born in case they were wrong! 

Hope this helps

Posted: 16 January 2006 at 4:47pm | IP Logged

After having dd#1 i would say i had mild pmd but was never treated for it.  ds was awful, i suffered quite badly, was on pills for about 12 months.  i dont remember the first 12 months of his life and a little bit afterwards, it's all a complete blur.

dd#2 was great I didn't get pnd at all, and now with dd#3 i'm unsure wether i have it or not.  somedays i'm great other days i just cry all the time.  My social worker said i definitly have it now but then everytime i see her i start to cry, i have a lot going on at the moment so the tears may just be stress related I'm unsure.  I dont want to start treatment if i dont need it and its just a passing phase.

to round off i've had it a definate twice out of 4 kids and possibly a 3rd time

Posted: 16 January 2006 at 5:20pm | IP Logged

Not gonna go in to much detail with it as it makes me upset and angry at the same time...

I did have it with taylor, but i never told anyone about it... dp at the time had a feeling something was wrong so he made me go to the docs, and yeah.. i had it, but i refused treatment and self medicated with herbal stuff which i think worked very well.

I really do hope i dont get it this time round.

Posted: 17 January 2006 at 9:20am | IP Logged

I had it twice out of three children.  The first time it was untreated for at least a year and was hell the second time I realised and had it treated myself.

I am not sure I agree with the Edinburgh test that is used to be honest.  I think it is treated as just another paper work exercise and not really paid much attention to.  It's just another form to be given and filled in.  Even if a hv picks up you have pnd then you need to see your gp.  There should be a better route to go than having to then go to a gp.  Why are hv's or mw's not allowed to treat this condition that is specific to childbirth?  The gp's don't have the time to treat the condition properly.  They can't offer the time to support new mothers.  PND is different to other depressions and therefore should be treated differently in my opinion.

Posted: 17 January 2006 at 12:20pm | IP Logged

I agree with Sam about the Edinburgh test. I think a lot of women are scared it looks like they cant cope if they are honest and lie on the test.

I was high risk for PND as I have previous history of depression and had to come off my anti d's when i fell pg. I had a difficult pregnancy and had to have an emergancy c section. My MW and HV were worried about it but I was fine and very lucky.

Posted: 17 January 2006 at 6:23pm | IP Logged

i had a touch of the baby blues after having my first baby, but it passed quickly and i didnt feel the same way with my second.  this is quite natural and many mothers suffer with bouncing hormones after giving birth. 

just a couple of questions though.  how do the experts diagnose pnd?  does it have to go on after a certain amount of time? also, how do doctors assess if a mother needs to go on anti depressants?  i think this is an interesting subject, but appears a bit grey in definition. 

Posted: 17 January 2006 at 7:07pm | IP Logged

I HAVE 2 KIDS AND LOOKING BACK 2 AFTER I HAD MY 1ST I THINK A HAD IT VERY VERY MILD BUT DIDNT RECOGNISE IT AT THE TIME WAS FINE AFTER MY 2ND AND FINE NOW.

TRUDI