About Postpartum Psychosis
Postpartum psychosis (sometimes known as puerperal psychosis) is a severe mental illness. It affects around 1 in every 1000 women who give birth.
It most often begins in the first two weeks after birth, with symptoms starting in the first few days after having a baby.
Anyone with postpartum psychosis will need to get treatment as soon as possible. This is usually best done in hospital, ideally in a specialist mother & baby unit.
What are the symptoms of Postpartum Psychosis?
- Someone with early symptoms of postpartum psychosis may feel:
- Excited, elated or high
- Overactive and energetic
- Like talking a lot
- That their thoughts are racing
- Confused or disorientated
- Unable to get to sleep, even when your baby is asleep, or feeling no need to sleep
- Irritable or angry
- Anxious, fearful, suspicious or paranoid
- Easily distracted
- Weakened inhibitions, behaving "out of charachter"
- That their senses are heightened, e.g. colours look more vivid than usual