Postpartum psychosis planning subsequent pregnancy

[Mummystrawb]

Hello,

I’m wondering whether this post may reach those who have suffered with postpartum psychosis in a previous pregnancy.

I was admitted to an MBU after the birth of my daughter and was really ill. Recovery has been a long and difficult journey.

At first, I swore I would never be able to have another baby as the experience was so horrific. But, I would like to expand my family, and hate to feel like this illness has controlled how my life goes.

I have been told about preconception clinics etc. I would be comfortable being medication from birth, but I wouldn’t want to take medication during a pregnancy.

What was your experience in your second (or further) pregnancy? Did you suffer PP again? Were you medicated or how did you approach this risk?

thank you! X

I'm only a little bit further down my journey than you are.

I had my daughter in 2020 and developed severe treatment resistant depression and psychosis and spent 10 weeks in a mother and baby unit. It took until she was 2 to recover from this episode. It took another year to get to a place where I felt able to contemplate a second.
I approached my medical team and agreed to drop 2 of my 3 medications which took 8 months. I'm bipolar and have been on the remaining medication since 2012 and it would be too damaging to my mental health to be off medication so for me not being medicated in pregnancy isn't an option. I was on this medication in pregnancy with my daughter without issues.
I stop my birth control in April last year and I'm on my third pregnancy after two miscarriages last year. My mental health so far (touch wood) has remained stable despite tricky times with hyperemesis and losses and difficult personal circumstances.
In the first pregnancy I was referred straight away to the perinatal team but since the midwife has agreed to wait until I have a successful 12 weeks scan. I will be under a consultant who specialises in maternal mental health. When I had my daughter I had I was in for 3 days because of my medication and had a single room which I found helpful for rest and I would ask for again. For me the psychosis kicked in at 3 weeks at the same time her reflux and what I now know is her food allergies kicked in and it was a bit of a perfect storm. I also resisted hospital for months getting by with a lot of outpatient support.

I had some counselling with my HV whilst I was reducing my meds and that helped me put the first year into context and feel more read to face it again. The biggest take home I have taken from is... The same might happen but I'm not the same. I would handle a reflux allergy baby better as I know a lot more and know that the early advice I got from medical professionals were talking bollocks. I had never had an admission before and I was hesitant about going in and it was helpful so I think I would go in before reaching "treatment resistant"