Abstract
Answer A. Baby blues
Baby blues is very common after having a baby and can be experienced in up to 70% of new mothers. It presents as a mild and transient disturbance in mood usually between 3–6 days after delivery. Usual features include fatigue, anxiety, irritability and crying. Symptoms can last a few days. It usually responds well to psychological support. Postnatal depression presents usually after a few months of delivery and has a prevalence of 10–15% and may require medication and closer follow-up. Puerperal psychosis presents with delusions centred on the child and hallucinations and can pose a risk of neglect or injury to the child. This needs admission to hospital. This doesn’t constitute bipolar disease or a personality disorder at all.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Clinical knowledge summaries, depression- antenatal and postnatal. http://cks.nice.org.uk/depression-antenatal-and-postnatal#!diagnosissub:2