Postnatal depression : facing the paradox of loss, happiness and motherhood

The birth of their child is one of the happiest times for mothers. However, ninety percent of new mothers find themselves in tears and feeling down soon after giving birth and one in ten become depressed in their baby's first year. In the traditional medical view Postnatal Depression (PND) has been considered to be the consequence of hormonal changes but this alone is not enough to explain PND completely and health care professionals and researchers are still struggling to identify who will suffer from it and who will not. In this down-to-earth, practical guide, Paula Nicolson, not only explains PND and outlines the theories of its causes, but also confronts the fundamental questions that most women want to know: ""will it affect me?"" and ""what should I do if it does?"". Using the stories of 24 women trying to adapt to being mothers, Paula Nicolson deals with the issues at the heart of this problem. By having a better understanding of the realities of motherhood, including the psychological and biological aspects, new mothers are able to develop a better self-awareness, which in turn allows them to deal with the emotional and practical challenges that lay ahead. Aimed directly at expecting and new mothers, this clear and accessible read is also an aid for health professionals and researchers of PND who struggle with the apparent lack of logic surrounding it"