Postpartum Mind Check-in

Written by Cynthia Obinatu, community and editorial lead. Checked against published guidance from the National Health Service. Not yet reviewed by a clinician. Educational, not medical advice.

How this postpartum mind check-in works

The check-in has six questions about joy, sleep, feeling connected, getting through the day, whether the heavy feelings are easing and how you are doing in your body and your head. Read them for this week and answer them in your own mind. There is one box where you can write whatever you want, and what you write saves on this device and is never sent to us. Clear removes it. You can return to it each week and see the same questions.

What your answers mean

There is no score and no result. If a few of the questions feel true for you, or one feels heavy, take that seriously. The National Health Service (NHS) lists the signs of postnatal depression as low mood, finding it hard to enjoy anything, feeling hopeless or that you cannot cope, guilt or worthlessness, anxiety, irritability, trouble sleeping, poor concentration and difficulty bonding with your baby. Thoughts of suicide or self-harm are on the list too. The NHS says to get help even if you only have some of the signs. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, treat it as an emergency and go to the nearest hospital or ask someone to take you now.

What is the difference between baby blues and postnatal depression?

Feeling down, anxious or irritable for a few days after birth is very common, and the NHS calls it the baby blues. It says the baby blues usually goes away within 2 weeks of the birth. If the feelings continue, get worse or make it hard to cope, speak to a doctor or midwife. That is why the check-in asks whether the heavy feelings are easing or getting heavier.

Can postnatal depression start months after birth?

Yes. The NHS says the symptoms can begin while you are pregnant, soon after birth, or up to a year after your baby is born. A mother who felt fine at 6 weeks can still need help at 4 months. The NHS also says fathers and partners can get depression after a baby, so if the baby's father is low too, he should speak to a doctor.

Can postnatal depression go away on its own?

Sometimes it eases with time, and the NHS says it usually gets better in 3 to 6 months, but it can last much longer. Do not wait for it to pass. Speak to a doctor or midwife at the clinic where you delivered, or a doctor you trust, and they can tell you what fits your situation.

What treatment helps postnatal depression?

The NHS names talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and antidepressants. It says many antidepressants are safe to use while breastfeeding and that your doctor can prescribe a suitable one. A talking therapy and a medicine are decisions to make with a doctor. Nothing on this page replaces that.

Asking for help in a Nigerian home

This check-in lists the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) number above, and it is there for you to use. After a birth many people ask about the baby and few ask about you, and in some homes a mother who says she is struggling hears that she should be grateful. Feeling low is not ingratitude. It is a health problem, and the NHS describes it as one. If you can, tell one person you trust, such as your husband, your mother or your sister, that you did the check-in and one question felt heavy. For the physical warning signs after birth, read postpartum warning signs, and for a plan for the weeks after birth see your postpartum recovery timeline.

Common questions

Where this comes from

• Postnatal depression: overview. National Health Service.
• Postnatal depression. National Health Service.

This page has not yet been reviewed by a clinician. It stands on the published guidance above, and we say so plainly rather than implying a review that has not happened. Read it alongside our medical policy.