Postnatal depression affects up 15pc of mothers

About 15% of mothers experience postnatal depression. POOL| POOL

Question: My sister had a baby nine years ago. She then left her husband shortly after. She is now confined to her room and has stopped talking to her family. She is not going to work, and she has lost a lot weight. Could this be postnatal Depression? What can be done to help her?

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Your information suggests that your sister has postnatal depression. You should get her to see a doctor immediately. This will save her life, marriage and children as well as her job. Untreated postnatal depression can be a grave condition. However, it is possible to save her life, marriage, and even job.

An elderly mother of two, aged 30, was brought to our attention by her husband. He was convinced that she had experienced postnatal depression. Similar to your sister’s story, the outcome was similar. After the birth of her second child, she was a different woman. She was no longer a loving, caring and happy mother. She had a difficult time finding the right balance in her life. Either the baby wasn’t sleeping enough or was eating too much, or she was crying too loudly. She claimed that her husband was not caring for her anymore.

She was already suicidal by the time she was brought to our hospital. Her baby was also admitted. Her mother was able visit and spent a few days at our hospital, helping with the baby’s recovery while she was allowed to rest. With the right medication and therapy, she recovered. She was able to go back to work and became a banker.

Her message was simple and clear. First of all, it was known that as many as 15% of mothers will develop this condition within the first year following delivery. Second, the severity of the condition varies. Some, like hers, require hospitalization. Some people can manage it at home, while others are more severe. Even mild cases can cause significant damage to the relationships between the husband and baby as well as their friendships, especially if they are not aware of it.

Another message she sent was that this condition can be found in people whose marriages have been stable, and that it is not necessarily a sign of a bad marriage. Post-natal depression can sometimes be exacerbated by complications and difficult pregnancies.

Her recovery was made possible by the support she received from her family and friends. She discovered that there was hope after the despair that drove her to contemplate suicide.

Dr. Njenga works as a psychiatrist, mental health consultant, and is also the author of numerous scientific papers.