Puerperal Psychosis, also known as Postnatal Psychosis or Postnatal Bi-polar Disorder, is the most severe form of postnatal mental illness. Although fortunately, it is the least common, affecting 2 in 1000 mothers. With the correct treatment, mothers can recover quickly. It usually starts within the first 14 days after childbirth and rapidly worsens, with symptoms changing from day to day.

 

The mother is agitated, perplexed, frightened and cannot sleep. She has thoughts that seem strange to others and will firmly believe them despite everything. Contact with reality is lost or highly distorted. These symptoms are called 'delusions'. She may also see things that are not there and hallucinate or she may hear voices. The symptoms can change to either a severe type of depression or the mother becomes elated and over-active, talking or writing rapidly and non-stop. This is known as 'mania'.

 

 

- Have exisitng bi-polar (manic depressive) illness.

- Have had a previous episode of Puerperal Psychosis.

- Have a close family history of either of the above.

- It is more common in first time mothers who have had a caesarean section.

 

 

Mothers with Puerperal Psychosis need to be seen urgently by their GP and psychiatric services and may need to be admitted to a specialist Mother and Baby Unit (MBU). Here the mother is able to remain with her baby in a safe environment whilst she is being treated. Medical treatment will be necessary, and will be made according to the individual woman's symptoms. It will usually consist of taking an antipsychotic drug to control the symptoms. These drugs can normally take a few weeks to begin to work.