(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
The so-called "Baby blues" have long been thought to be due to hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy or after the birth of a baby.
But new research suggests the depressive condition, which affects 10 to 15 per cent of women in developed countries is - in the majority of cases - linked to historic mental health problems.
"What's that? It's a baby in mummy's tummy? A baby brother or a bay sister." "No it's not" What is it then?" It's a polar bear.
Phillippa Carisbrooke reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Liza Peeters is laughing, but not all that long ago she struggled to even get out of bed.
After the birth of her daughter Ally in 2013 the 36-year-old was diagnosed with Postnatal Depression.
"I think 50 per cent was attributed to my past anxiety. And the other 50 per cent is from being a new mother, the feeling of being out of control."
A study by Murdoch Childrens Research Institute has found 85 per cent of women who developed "perinatal depression" showed symptoms of anxiety or unhappiness years earlier.
Lead researcher Professor George Patton says that suggests depression during pregnancy or after the birth of a baby is not a special disorder that only occurs at that time of life.
"Well the old belief is that these problem of depression during pregnancy or after pregnancy were unique problems, that they only occurred at that time of life. It was something to do with the hormonal changes that occur at that time. Well this has blown that out of the water. We can now see these problems as a continuation of problems that began generally to emerge during the teen and young adult years."
The study found one in three women who suffered depression before conceiving experienced mental health problems during or after pregnancy.
That's compared to one in 13 women without a history.
Policy, Research and Evaluation Leader at Beyond Blue, Doctor Stephen Carbone believes putting in place emotional and social supports for high risk women could reduce depression in pregnancy.
"Early intervention is pivotal. And this is telling us we need to start in teenage years and early years adulthood to try and provide information and advice to young women who might become pregnant later on how to look after themselves and how to spot depression, so they can get help at the earliest possible time."
Ms Peeters is happily expecting her second child.
This time around she feels she can prevent or manage a flare-up of depression.
"I'm continuing to see my psychiatrist, and I'm continuing my medication. And also my husband is understanding more of my situation, and he is being more supportive and I believe that really helps."
Knowing women are at risk as early as their teens could lead to policy change, that prevents mums in Ally's generation developing the baby blues.
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