Having a baby is an emotional and stressful event for both the mother and the father so it is not unusual to feel depressed afterwards.
It was once thought that PND was caused by the changes in hormone levels that occur during and after pregnancy. However, there is no evidence to support this theory. It is now understood that the condition is related to the combination of life changes that occur after childbirth.
PND is more likely to develop if particularly stressful events occurred during pregnancy or childbirth. These factors may include:
 A difficult delivery
Depression during pregnancy
Worry and anxiety about the responsibility of having a new baby
Lack of support from family and friends
Relationship problems
Money problems
If you have suffered from mental health problems in the past
Physical health problems following the birth, such as anaemia, or urinary incontinence.
Depression is known to run in families so it is thought that there is a link between genetics and PND. However, at the moment the relationship is not fully understood.
June 2011
| 
What is Post Natal Depression?
