Chapter 19: Postnatal depression

You've seen the advertisements. A beautiful woman, looking as if her day job is modelling for shampoo commercials, gently smiles down at her baby. The chubby baby smiles back with just the cutest little hint of drool emerging from her gummy grin. Their eyes are locked in love and bliss. This, truly, is what motherhood is all about.

I've got news for you. One of the best-kept secrets in maternity is that for 20 per cent of mothers (1 in 5), things are very different. She is deeply miserable, desperately tired, anxious and frightened, and the baby does nothing but scream abuse at her. Somehow her life seems to be coming apart at the seams.

Postnatal psychosis - Postnatal depression - Deep depression and misery - Anxiety - Anger - Loss of self-esteem - Chronic fatigue - Causes and reasons - What to do - In conclusion

Chapter 20: The secret fears all parents share