Puerperal Psychosis

[Rhubarb]

Does anyone have any experience of this? I've had an email as a result of my website, from the father of someone who has been admitted to a mental hospital suffering from this. In order to help give the right advice, I need to know a bit more about it and any treatments that are used, how long it is treated and whether a full recovery is made afterwards. Also, what they can do to help her.
I'm relying on you guys, please help!

[hmb]

No direct experience. A friend of a friend had it, was sectioned, and recovered fully. Needed a lot of support.

Go to www.bham.ac.uk/app/

An action on Puerperal psychosis web site.

HTH

[mands1]

Can't really help much my sister in law had it many years ago I was a bit young to remember.I know they sent her off to hospital in London for 4wks while my mum looked after the kids.

She's never been the same since.Drugs have come along was since hope all goes well.

[SueW]

You could suggest he gets in contact with the NCT Experience Register who may be able to put him in touch with someone who has been through this already.

Call the NCT main enquiry line on 0870 444 8707 and ask for the phone number of the National Experience Register Holder.

[leese]

This is difficult Rhubarb, as the other responses have pointed out - no two people are the same - some will recover relatively quickly, whilst others take a lot longer.
We have a mother and baby unit in Bristol, designed specifically for this sort of problem - one of only a few in the country. Women are resident WITH baby. Treatment involves drug therapy and ongoing assessment of the mother. As it is a mental illness, it is very hard to just suddenly get better - it can be a long, uphill struggle.
I've only ever encountered three women with peurperal psychosis, and each one was frightening in its intensity - won't obviously go into details, but the women were just not the 'same' women as those we had looked after ante-natally, if you see what I mean. They definitely needed lots of intensive input. It was very scary for the families too - none could really understand why this had happened, and what it meant - I guess what your 'father' must be experiencing Rhubarb.
I guess the olnly advice I could give is for a family member to just be there for the woman. Not to judge, or to question - not to ask her how she feels (as she probably won't really know - she may well think she feels fine, but her actions etc dictate otherwise) - just to visit as often as possible - especially if in a mental hospital - I always think this is such an inappropriate place for a new mum - is baby with her? If not, to encourage interaction with the child at every available opportunity - again, not to push this, but just slowly encourage it.
It will be daunting for the man involved - not least because his partner is in a mental hospital, and the stigma that involves - what does he say to his/her friends etc when they ask how/where she is? Important for him to get support too - good he has happened upon your website Rhubarb. Feel I've waffled on a bit here, but if I can elabortae on anything, just ask!

[Rhubarb]

Is it ok if I copy your messages (leaving out your nicknames) to him? There is a lot here and I want him to get all the right info asap. If he emailed me for help he must be pretty desperate! Thanks everyone! If I get any more responses after these I'll pass them on too.

[SueW]

Fine by me

[hmb]

Fine by me too. I hope they get the help they need

[leese]

no probs