Up to 1 in 10 women and 1 in 20 men experience depression during pregnancy. Anxiety is also a common symptom in expecting parents.
Other symptoms include; panic attacks where your heart is racing, feeling of worry, mood swings, feeling sad, having little or no interest to things that usually bring joy or thoughts of self harm.
Parents who have had a baby recently may also experience feelings of low mood, this affects 1 in 7 new mums and 1 in 10 new dads. These feelings may be present after delivery or may gradually appear over a period of a few weeks or months during the first year of brith.
It is really important that if you or your partner experience any of these symptoms or have any concerns that you seek medical advice. There is plenty of help so you do not need to be alone. Treatment will vary on an individual basis but may include speaking therapies, medication or support groups.
If you have any concerns please pop by and see me in clinic.
Breast milk is often considered to be the baby’s first vaccine as it’s rich in nutrients that help to fight infections such as pneumonia and help development of the gut.
It is important that if you are breastfeeding that you look after yourself as you’ll need a good amount of energy to keep up your supply. This includes having a good healthy balanced diet with sufficient iron and vitamins that can be found naturally in fruit, vegetables and meat.
Sometimes breastfeeding doesn’t always work out and don’t fear if that’s you. There are alternatives such as donor milk or formula. There different types of formula on the market - Cow’s milk based, formula with added probiotics, gold, thickened and hypoallergenic formula.
Cow’s milk formula is suitable for most babies and it is similar to breast milk, however it is always important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before using.
But of course if you are able to, it is recommended to breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months of life, you can supplement breast milk with solids for up to 2 years as wished.
If you have any questions or concerns about breastfeeding please pop by and see me in clinic.
One of the best perks of being a General Practitioner is being able to follow my beautiful young mummies through their pregnancy. From the moment they come in and say “Dr Nora I’m pregnant!” to when 9 months later a wonderful human is introduced into the world! 👼
Congratulations to this brand new mummy, I cannot wait to watch your angel grow ❤️ Take care and stay healthy 😊
