Postnatal depression affects approximately 20 per cent of women within the first 12 months after birth, therefore you would certainly not be alone as a mother if you were experiencing this mental health impact on your life. 

Another significant fact is that two-thirds of mothers who previously had a mental health condition during their teens and 20s also experienced postnatal depression.

Postnatal depression is not a new mental health condition and actually dates back to the mid-19th century, when French psychiatrist Louis Victor Marcé published a monograph on the “madness of pregnant women”.

Marcé introduced the idea that the postnatal period is one of higher risk for mental health problems. 

An article published in The Lancet journal in 2015, Prediction of perinatal depression from adolescence and before conception, noted that perinatal depression is a neglected global health priority.

The article further stated women with a history of persisting common mental health disorders before pregnancy were in an identifiable high-risk group and therefore were deserving of clinical support throughout the childbearing years.

New Victorian research conducted with 1000 women confirmed mental health problems of some kind were very common, among those women who participated in the research, in their teens and young adult years, with 85 per cent of the women with high levels of perinatal depressive symptoms having a history of mental health problems from before pregnancy.

So what are the effects of postnatal depression?

Per Janice Cooper, interim director of the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, mothers struggling with postnatal depression have difficulty in bonding with their children and children of depressed mothers are also at risk for developing insecure attachments to their mothers, meaning they develop issues with trust and dependability.

Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) mentions that the relationship between parents may become highly stressed or threatened by the mother's postnatal depression.

PANDA suggested that important decisions about the relationship be postponed until the depression has improved. A study by Pediatrics & Child Health found that toddlers and pre-schoolers of depressed mothers were at risk of developing poor self-control.

These children can have difficulties in cognitive functioning and in social interactions with parents and peers. School-age and adolescent children of mums with postnatal depression were also at risk of developing their own anxiety disorders. The study also found a greater risk of ADHD and learning disabilities among children. 

There are some signs of postnatal depression to look for: Having a very low mood or feeling inadequate or a failure as a mother; a sense of hopelessness about the future; feeling empty, sad, teary, guilty, ashamed, worthless, anxious or panicky; trouble sleeping, being exhausted, or having nightmares; worrying excessively about your baby and scared of being alone.

The upside to postnatal depression is that it is treatable. The Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) in Melbourne recommends that postnatal depression recovery can start by simply getting some emotional support, which can be very helpful giving mothers some time, space and energy to devote to themselves. 

In addition, a counsellor provides the opportunity to talk through thoughts and feelings. Counselling can take varied forms such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or group support as a place where mothers can express shared feelings of their depressed state without judgement.

This can give mothers an opportunity to share experiences but also help them feel understood and not alone. 

Then depending on the severity of a mother’s depression medical treatments may help provide relief from some of the symptoms of postnatal depression.

Antidepressants are an effective treatment. There are certain types of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) that can be safely used when breastfeeding, as these medications pass into breast milk at very low levels.

If you think that you may have a pregnancy-related mood disorder, it's important to seek treatment so that you can avoid long-term effects of postnatal depression.

You can contact COPE - (03) 9376 6321 or info@cope.org.au, PANDA - 1300 726 306 or consult your local medical practitioner.