Postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis as the name sounds is something that happens to new mothers after childbirth. It is an emotional condition that can be so severe. The condition makes new mothers not to respond to their newborn babies. In some extreme cases, the mothers might even want to harm their babies.

This is not the same as postpartum depression. This does not mean the two cannot happen together. In some cases, some mothers will suffer the two conditions together.

According some scholars, this condition might show as a sign of a bipolar disorder.

WHO IS AT RISK OF POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS

Postpartum psychosis is so common that out of 1000 new mothers, it is likely that at most 2 of them will have this condition. This is according to a report that was published in January of 2014 in the Psychiatric Times.

Out of the new mothers who will suffer the condition of postpartum psychosis, almost half of them are people who have suffered some mental health issues before. What this means is that the other half do not have a reason why the suffer it.

It also means that any new mother out there is a potential sufferer of this condition.

CAUSES OF POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS

The immediate cause of postpartum psychosis is not known yet. It could also be that changes in hormones right after giving birth could be a course.

Your risk is higher if you are giving birth at an older age. Interestingly, a new mother with diabetes might just be protected. It normally will occur between the first to the fourth week after delivery.

SIGNS OF POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS

The signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis are far reaching than those of depression. Here are a few.

• An instant feeling or thought of harming your baby
• Hallucinations (Seeing or hearing things that are not real)
• Having a neutral facial response to your baby
• Inability to emotionally respond to your baby
• A change in eating pattern, either too much or too less
• Changes in appetite or eating
• Irritability
• Confusion
• Agitation
• An inability to bond with baby

When things get severe, a new mother might be seen looking or virtually staring into space. They might as well refuse to eat all together.

When these are observed, please consult the doctor immediately.