The National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines, which helpset NHS standards, aim to even out variable standards of care in Englandand Wales in treating mentally ill mothers up to the first year aftergiving birth.
Dr Gillian Leng, executive lead on the guidelines, said: "We are lookingat distinguishing the ups and downs of everyday life from more seriousconditions."
The guidelines tell health professionals to pick up signs of distress byasking mums if they have been "bothered by feeling down" and lackingpleasure in doing things over the last month, before offering help. Theyalso say women needing psychological treatment should usually be seenwithin a month of initial assessment and no longer than three monthsafterwards.
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