Sleep is often underestimated as a basic need for humans, however it is just as important as food, water and warmth.

Too often we see parents reaching out for help and are repeatedly told, it’s normal and encouraged to suck it up and get on with it.

While a certain amount of sleep deprivation comes with having a new baby, chronic sleep deprivation doesn’t need to continue past the 6-month mark.

According to medical experts, there generally aren’t any long-term health effects that result from less than 6 months of being chronically sleep deprived. However; more than 6 months of chronic sleep deprivation can begin to take its toll on the mum, the baby and ultimately the whole family.

Postnatal depression is serious, can be extremely dangerous and it affects up to one in seven women (almost 16 per cent) giving birth in Australia.

Being sleep deprived has its costs, namely a host of symptoms. Some of which are very similar to post natal depression such as;