Psychological problems:
-'Third day blues': on days 3-5, a large proportion of women become temporarily sad and emotional.
-Approximately 10% of women suffer frompostnatal depression which may present at any time during the first year after delivery.
-The precise cause of this is unknown and may involve hormonal changes, reaction to excitement of childbirth and doubts by the mother about her ability to care for the child.
-Management consists of reassuring the mother and explaining what is happening.