When does post natal depression occur?

Post Natal Depression can occur anytime during the first year after delivery though most cases present in the first 4-6 weeks. Sometimes PND starts right after delivery but it can also develop more slowly, often becoming evident 3-4 months following the birth. It is very common for a mother with Post Natal Depression to be unaware of what is happening to her and, if she has never experienced depression before, she may well not realise what is happening to her until the illness has become established and debilitating.

Often looking after a little one means that the mother's focus is on the baby, not herself, and she may not pick up on warning signs of which she might otherwise have been aware. She may also be unwilling to acknowledge that something is wrong. A woman who is developing Post Natal Depression may initially have symptoms of anxiety and so may not recognise her symptoms as 'Post Natal Depression' since depression is only one symptom of the illness