The two most influential bodies of work on postnatal depression are st
udies informed by the medical model and feminist analyses. This articl
e begins by reviewing medical and feminist theories, highlighting thei
r contributions to our understanding of postnatal depression as well a
s their limitations. In particular clinical studies have focused on th
e individual mother and her circumstances, while feminist theories hav
e emphasized the sociopolitical context at the expense of the individu
al. This article argues that a relational approach, which takes 'relat
ionship' as a unit of analysis, and explores women's feelings in terms
of their relationships to themselves, their interpersonal relationshi
ps, and their varying relationships to cultural and structural opportu
nities and constraints, provides a fruitful way of understanding postn
atal depression. The article discusses a qualitative study of 18 women
's experiences which aimed to develop such an understanding of postnat
al depression. Drawing on feminist and relational methodology and theo
ry the study sought to explore and prioritize women's own understandin
gs and accounts of their experiences; elucidate the processes through
which the women became depressed; and understand postnatal depression
in terms of the similarities and differences between the women and the
ir lives.