Postnatal anxiety: Claire Sugden struggled after daughter’s birth

Dr Kelly said there was evidence that suggested anxiety conditions like GAD, OCD and PTSD have a higher rate of occurrence in the perinatal population compared to the general population.

“It is a vulnerable time, we don’t want to make mums more anxious, but the key is early intervention,” she said.

“It means that the prognosis is much better.”

Claire Sugden said since addressing her anxiety, she had never felt happier and wanted to speak out about her experience, so others know there is hope.

“We talk a lot about postnatal depression, we don’t talk about postnatal anxiety and therefore people don’t recognise it and assume it’s a new part of motherhood,” Sugden said.

“Worry will be with you for the rest of your life as a parent. But what I had was a very severe form of anxiety which needed support.

“My message to anyone feeling the same is, you don’t have to feel like this. There is support there.

“You can come out the other side being able to enjoy your baby and your life.”