08 Jan 09
These episodes titled Little Girl Lost, followed the story of Tom and Clare Wainwright, a young couple who lost their baby. It transpired Clare suffered from post-natal depression (PND), a relatively common condition; the effects of which can vary from person to person. In our story, Clare’s condition went undiagnosed.
It eventually turned out, baby Charlotte was not murdered, as suspected, but died of a rare metabolic disorder whilst asleep.
If you have any questions or concerns about this kind of condition, please speak to your doctor, or you could contact a charity like CLIMB. CLIMB is committed to fighting metabolic diseases through research, awareness, and support. They are the UK's foremost organisation to provide information and support on all metabolic diseases to children, adults, families, carers, and professionals.
Here is some information about post-natal depression, as well as some links to organisations that can provide more details and support.
WHAT IS POST NATAL DEPRESSION?
Post natal depression may follow on from ‘baby blues’ - a short-lived period of mild depression – but it can also start some time later, usually within the first year following birth. A short period of intense elation may sometimes come before the onset of PND. It is not known for certain what causes PND, but it seems likely that in some cases it is hormonal changes after birth which may be the trigger. Research has shown there are a number of things which may make some women more vulnerable to developing PND, including:
• a previous or family history of depression
• lack of social support
• no one in whom the mother can confide
• a poor relationship with her own mother or partner
• major life events in the 12 months before the birth (for example, bereavement, moving house, unemployment)
• social circumstances (for example, poor housing, financial worries)
• a traumatic birth experience (research has shown that the way the
mother feels about her birth experience is more important than what actually happened)
• unrealistic expectations
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The symptoms of PND are many and varied and are experienced in different combinations by different women, or even at different times during the course of the illness. The most common are:
• Anxiety
• Panic Attacks
• Tension and Depression
• Exhaustion
• Lack of concentration
• Rejection of baby/partner
• Inappropriate/obsessional
• Loss of libido
Physical symptoms - sleep and appetite disturbances, lethargy, headaches, blurred vision and stomach pains. These can all be signs of tension, the body’s way of saying that something is wrong and that help is needed. However, they can cause considerable anxiety and many mothers become convinced that there is something more seriously wrong.
WHAT TO DO?
Talk to someone. Family, friends, your health visitor or your doctor. Or there are a number of charities who can provide support and advice. There is no shortage of people who can give the reassurance and help that will get the individual and their family through the difficulties that the condition can cause.
More on metabolic diseases from this charity’s website: http://www.climb.org.uk/
More on post-natal depression from this charity’s website: http://www.pni.org.uk/
Post-natal depression can be linked to PMS – for more info visit http://www.pms.org.uk/