Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a serious mental illness which usually occurs in the first few days or weeks after childbirth. It diffes from baby blues or postnatal depression and should be treated as a medical emergency. Symptoms usually start quite suddenly within a few weeks after giving birth.Symptoms include:
hallucinations
delusions – thoughts or beliefs that are unlikely to be true
a manic mood – talking and thinking too much or too quickly, feeling high or on top of the world
a low mood – showing signs of depression, being withdrawn or tearful, lacking energy, having a loss of appetite, anxiety or trouble sleeping
loss of inhibitions
feeling suspicious or fearful
restlessness
feeling very confused
behaving in a way that’s out of character.
PP can be an overwhelming and frightening experience for you and your loved ones and it’s important to seek help as soon as possible.Women with a history of mental illness such as bipolar disorder are at particularly high risk of developing PP, however half of all women who develop PP have no history of mental illness. The symptoms of PP can get worse very quickly, so it should be treated as a medical emergency and usually requires hospital treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms of PP, call 999. With the right support, most women fully recover from PP. Recovery takes time and the journey may be tough. The illness can be frightening for the woman experiencing it, her partner and family. See the related links below for more information.
Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a serious mental illness which usually occurs in the first few days or weeks after childbirth. It diffes from baby blues or postnatal depression and should be treated as a medical emergency. Symptoms usually start quite suddenly within a few weeks after giving birth.
Symptoms include:
