4th September 2020

A 28-year-old woman attends a GP appointment. She gave birth to her first child six weeks ago

A 28-year-old woman attends a GP appointment. She gave birth to her first child six weeks ago and is concerned about her mood. She has felt very low and emotional since the birth – labour was a stressful experience for her, as she had an emergency C-section after a failed induction. Her newborn baby boy is healthy and gaining weight well, but she says she does not think she is being a good mother to him – she is struggling with breastfeeding, and he cries all of the time. She is barely sleeping at night and always feels teary. She has not confided these symptoms in anyone, and although her partner is supportive, she does not think he understands how hard she is finding motherhood.

Which of the following statements about the management of this condition is the most correct?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.