Is perinatal anxiety a bigger problem than postnatal depression?

For many women, the main problem with giving birth is anxiety – and dealing with it quickly is the key to a good recovery. Is enough being done to spot it in time?

When Alex Laver’s son was born in 2009, she threw herself wholeheartedly into motherhood, establishing a feeding routine, joining baby groups and revelling in overwhelming love for her new baby. “I was tired. I worried a little, but no more than any other new mother,” she says, “I was feeling well.” However, as the weeks passed, things began to change. By the time her son was 10 weeks old Alex had developed vomiting and diarrhoea, her appetite had disappeared and she was unable to sleep. The baby’s feeding became erratic and she became very anxious.

Soon afterwards – with physical problems ruled out – she was diagnosed with postnatal depression and anxiety. It was both a relief and a surprise. “I wasn’t down or sad. I was hyperactive, constantly buzzing, on edge and anxious,” she says.

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from Health & wellbeing | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1Onotrq
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