Red flag signs of postpartum psychosis in new mothers – and how to help

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Each year, up to 1200 new mothers suffer from postpartum psychosis, a new study suggests.According to data from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, based on births registered in 2022, the condition affects between 600 and 1200 women annually.So, what exactly is postpartum psychosis, and how can you spot the signs that someone is suffering with it?Sometimes referred to as puerperal psychosis or postnatal psychosis, postpartum psychosis is a mental illness that happens right after giving birth. “[It] is a sudden onset, serious mental health illness that presents in the immediate postnatal period, usually within two weeks after giving birth.

However, there are cases where it can go undetected for several weeks,” says Sarah Oliver, a therapeutic practitioner at the For Baby’s Sake Trust.

This is because it may be mistaken for “baby blues”. But, as Oliver adds: “It is a serious medical emergency and requires prompt treatment.

It affects around one in every 1000 mothers and although there are some factors, such as family history and previous mental health history that increase risk, it can also present in mothers who have no previous mental health history.”Oliver says symptoms can vary from mother to mother but can generally be defined by sudden onset severe depression, often accompanied by elevated mood, hypomania and manic episodes.“This differs from postnatal depression as the mood ‘swings’ and there can be rapid changes in mood,” she explains. “The mother can present as being in a very high mood, feeling great and on top of the world and very excitable.