A KNIGHTSWOOD mum has opened up about her “debilitating” experience of post-natal depression in a new book.

Kirsty Mac said the illness left her screaming at her newborn, Jessica, and thinking that her partner was having an affair.

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby.

It’s a common problem, affecting more than one in every 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners.

Now Kirsty, 33, has written and published ‘Not All Mothers Love Their Baby (Well, not straight away at least)’ in a bid to help other parents who may be struggling.

She told the Post: “When I gave birth, although it wasn’t a classic traumatic birth, to me it was still quite traumatic. It was busy and stressful.

“I don’t know if that was the cause or if I was just really tired, but from that moment on I just didn’t feel myself.

“I was breastfeeding exclusively and the sleep deprivation really didn’t help matters.

“A few things came together and just created this big storm.

“My partner noticed how I was acting and he thought I was psychotic. It wasn’t until he got home from work one day and was banging on the bathroom door thinking I was taking my life and that of my daughter, that he sat me down and told me he thought I had depression.

“I was imagining him having affairs and I didn’t see the reality.”

While receiving therapy, Kirsty started a blog called Honest K - where she detailed her experience of the condition.

She added: “I think the term ‘post-natal depression’ is becoming more visible but I think the symptoms associated with it are still masked in stigma.

“People don’t have the words to express how they’re feeling or they don’t realise it’s an illness.

“I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve shared something and somebody has said: ‘I can’t believe you’ve put that into words, that’s exactly how I’m feeling’.

“It was a combination of anti-depressants and therapy that helped me get through it. The blog and the release of writing my thoughts and sharing them with other people really helped.”

The book can be purchased on Amazon and through other online booksellers.