Whether you feel like you are struggling through a baby blues patch or fighting within the grip of depression the tips given below may help.

> Add fresh rosemary to your diet
Rosemary is a powerful antioxidant that stimulates digestion and blood flow. It tastes wonderful with roast potatoes , steamed carrots or with lamb. If you like herbal tea try rosemary tea once a day. If you are having a weep to yourself, crush some fresh rosemary in your hands and breath in its rejuvinating scent. It can only make you feel a little better!

> Eat chocolate
Good quality dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa content) contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin. Chocolate also triggers the release of endorphins (feel good hormones).

> Take B Vitamins
If your B Vitamin levels are low you are bound to be feeling depressed. Try ‘Tiger Milk’ which you make in a liquidiser: full fat milk, a spoonful of brewers yeast and a banana or mango. This is especially good if you are finding you are missing meals due to stress and adapting to looking after your baby. It’s quick and nutritious. Note: Do not use brewers yeast if you are taking medical antidepressants or if you have a yeast infection (i.e thrush) as it won’t help, but make things worse!

> Flower Remedies/ Essences
My favourite is Female Essence by Jan de Vries which is wonderful for helping lift feelings of tiredness, an inability to cope, tenseness, irritabililty, and anger. Bach Original Flower Remedies, Mustard, Gentian, Hornbeam and Gorse can treat depression quickly and safely.

Archie Browns in Penzance and Hendra Health Stores in Truro both have knowledgeable staff and a good stock of Bach Flower and Jan de Vries essences. You can also buy online and from most good health food stores.

> Fresh Air and Exercise
Get your baby in the buggy and take a walk – not through town where you have the distraction of people and shopping and chores - but perhaps through a wood, on a beach , by the river, or a along the seafront: anywhere where you can breath deep and stretch your legs. If you can’t get out and about yet because you have had a c-section or for any other reason, then sit in the garden or park with your baby in the buggy, or failing that then make sure you are airing your living space each day.

> Sleep
Don’t laugh! You should get AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
When you are feeling bad, get into bed when you can and sleep for as long as your baby lets you! It will make you feel better.

> Rose Otto Self Massage
Taken from Gentle First Year by Dr.Gowri Motha
(Lovely after a warm bath)

1. Blend ten drops of rose otto oil into 20ml of base oil such as extra virgin olive oil or sweet almond oil.
2. Firmly apply to the arms and legs in long downwards strokes.
3. Apply to the upper half of the torso in an upwards direction in small clockwise circles, draining the tissue fluids over the neck and upper chest into the triangular area above the collarbone. (If breastfeeding I would recommended that you do not put this oil on breasts or the nipples)
4. The abdominal area is massaged in an upwards direction and the waist swept from the periphery to the central areas.
5. Repeat daily. Do not wash off for at least four hours.

> Talk and Listen
There are women all around you and all over the world feeling like you do now! A survey done in 2007 by the Royal College of Midwives revealed that as many as 20% of mothers suffer from postnatal depression.

If you want to hear more and realise that you are far from being alone in feelings that can be so upsetting, listen to this Women’s Hour from February 2008.

If you feel you are suffering from something more serious than the baby blues you may also find these sites really helpful:

> Post Natal Depression & Puerperal Psychosis
> The Birth Trauma Association
> Sheila Kitzinger
> Outlook South West - providing easily accessible therapy based support through your GP.