Experiencing postpartum psychosis can be a harrowing experience for new mothers and families. Learn more about this serious mental health condition in this comprehensive guide.
Postpartum psychosis is a rare and severe mental disorder that can affect some women after giving birth. It typically starts suddenly in the first two weeks after delivery, with symptoms including confusion, paranoia and hallucinations. Those affected may also experience severe depression or mania, hears voices, and has ideas of harming their baby.
What is Postpartum Psychosis?
Postpartum psychosis is a severe mental disorder that affects new mothers in the weeks after childbirth. It can cause confusion, extreme mood swings, paranoia, hallucinations, and other intense symptoms. It is critical to recognize the signs so that women receive early intervention and can access appropriate treatment and support.
Postpartum psychosis is believed to be caused by hormonal and biochemical changes that happen during and after pregnancy. It is a rare disorder, occurring in approximately one or two of every 1,000 births, but it can have severe consequences for both the mother and the baby if not treated quickly. Symptoms typically include changes in thinking (such as racing thoughts), extreme confusion, insomnia, paranoia and/or hallucinations. Women with postpartum psychosis also often experience severe anxiety, energetic highs followed immediately by lows, disorganized thinking and/or suicidal thoughts. If left untreated, postpartum psychosis can become life-threatening.
Symptoms of Postpartum Psychosis:
Postpartum psychosis can cause a range of physical, psychological, and behavioural symptoms. These symptoms may vary in intensity over time and may include anxiety, anger, extreme irritability, social isolation, confusion, insomnia, disorientation, and rapid changes in moods or emotional states, delusions or hallucinations, com
pulsive behaviour such as frequent cleaning or organizing activities. It’s also important to note that some women with postpartum psychosis can experience suicidal thoughts or homicidal thoughts and must receive immediate medical attention.
Causes and Risk Factors:
Postpartum psychosis has many different possible causes and is often related to biological changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period. These can include hormonal imbalances, genetic factors, a family history of mental illness, or difficulty with the transition to motherhood. Additionally, women who experience high levels of stress, lack of support from family or friends, financial difficulties, chronic sleep deprivation, and past childhood trauma may be at an increased risk for developing postpartum psychosis.
Diagnosing and Treating Postpartum Psychosis:
It is important for pregnant and postpartum women to be aware of the signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis so that they can seek professional help as soon as possible. Diagnosis must be made by a licensed mental health professional, as it can be challenging to differentiate between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Treatment typically consists of psychotherapy, antidepressant or antipsychotic medications, and education about the disorder. Close follow-up with mental health professionals is essential in order to monitor the recovery process and identify when the mother may need additional support.
Ways to Reduce the Risk of Postpartum Psychosis:
There are a few ways to reduce the risk of postpartum psychosis. It is important for pregnant women and new mothers to have adequate emotional and social support, such as family members and friends who can lend an ear or moral support in difficult times. In addition, getting adequate amounts of sleep and rest, eating nutritiously and participating in regular physical activities may help enhance psychological well-being during this transitional period. Finally, it is important to access professional mental health services when needed.
In addition, postpartum psychosis may be less likely in women with a strong support system before giving birth. This can include family members, healthcare providers and other mental health professionals, who can provide stress management training and other lifestyle intervention strategies. By making sure you are supported before delivery and throughout the postpartum period, women can feel they have someone they can rely on during the toughest times. Capturing the concerning behaviour of herself or her baby is also important when important notifications are needed for healthcare providers. All these interventions could reduce the risk of postpartum psychosis.