Books to help you explore and understand postnatal depression for Read a Book Day
With between 10 and 20 percent of new mums 1 and 1 in 10 new dads 2 developing postnatal depression (PND) during the 12 months after having a baby*, our founder Victoria Jennings is passionate about supporting new parents with their mental health. Having suffered with PND herself following the birth of her first child Ana, she understands the isolation and low self-esteem a parent can experience during the first few months of their newborn’s life. Thanks to people like Victoria bravely sharing their stories, there is now a whole range of help out there. So, to make things a little easier this Read a Book Day, here are our top four books on postnatal depression, to help you navigate this tricky time.
Something To Live For: A True Story of Love, Hope and Postnatal Depression
In a truly honest and unfiltered memoir which was released this year, Laura Canty shares her experience with postnatal depression after the birth of her son, Arthur. Canty was diagnosed with acute PND in 2018 and spent 10 weeks in The Barberry National Centre for Mental Health with her son, overcoming the harsh reality of the illness and learning to accept, and love, her new reality.
Now an Expert by Experience volunteer for the NHS, Canty is passionate about opening the conversation around PND and helping others in similar situations to feel less alone.
You can buy this book here
www.amazon.co.uk/Something-Live-Story-Postnatal-Depression/dp/191318367X
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: The Definitive Survival and Recovery Approach (2017) This book is perfect if you are looking for a more relational, psychological understanding behind how you are feeling. Split into two parts, this book includes both the scientific and emotive sides of postpartum depression. Part one tells Sonya Watson’s emotive story of how she learnt to love her child whilst battling postnatal depression and anxiety, and part two tells of Dr Kathryn Whitehead’s insight into postpartum depression and anxiety. Whitehead is the doctor who helped Sonya to recover and feel a bond with her child. Sonya Watson is now a mum of two and a coordinator for PND Canterbury, using her experiences daily to help, educate and support other parents.
You can buy the book here
www.amazon.co.uk/Postpartum-Depression-Anxiety-Definitive-Survival/dp/1789560403
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers If reading a whole novel on how you can help yourself or your partner during this time seems a little overwhelming, try this illustrated and interactive book by Karen Kleiman instead. Separated into bite-sized advice pieces, relatable illustrations and quick activities you can do to help improve your mindset, this book is wonderful for picking up when you have a few minutes to yourself. The synopsis states that “over 90 percent of new mothers will have scary, intrusive thoughts about their baby and themselves,” and this book reassures parents that these thoughts are completely normal and don’t make you a bad parent.
Karen Kleiman is the founder of the acclaimed Postpartum Stress Center in the US and has been an international maternal mental health expert for over 32 years. She also published a new book this year titled ‘What about Us? A New Parent’s Guide to Safeguarding Your Over-Anxious, Over- Extended, Sleep-Deprived Relationship’ if you and your partner would like to navigate this tricky time together using an interactive format. You can buy her book here
Sad Dad: An Exploration of Postnatal Depression in Fathers
As mentioned above, it’s not just new mums that can suffer from postnatal depression. Rated 5/5 on Amazon, this book explores different aspects of postnatal depression for new dads, helping to open up the PND conversation to include fathers too. Supported by recent research and discussion, this book helps to understand the diagnosis and recovery journey of dads who suffer from PND. You can buy the book here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sad-Dad-Exploration-Postnatal-Depression/dp/185343230X/
At Bloom Baby Classes our core aim is to help new parents feel less alone during the first few years of their little one’s lives. Exploring the research and the encouraging books that are out there in addition to building a support network around you with our classes will do wonders for your mindset.
To join our supportive network of new parents whilst aiding your newborn’s development, contact us at enquiries@bloombabyclasses.com or call us on 0800 4647960.
1 Government UK, 2019, Perinatal mental health
2 Babycentre, 2022, Postnatal depression in dads