post partum psychosis

[Puffin]

I am concerned for my friend who suffered from this dramatically with her first baby.She is pregnant again and although delighted is obviously worried about suffering again.This is NOT post natal depression or baby blues.It is a dramatic and sensational reaction caused by an imbalnce of hormones in the first two/three weeks after childbirth.She was in a mother and baby psychiatric unit for the first 3 months.She is now faced with unhelpful doctors or think she may or may not suffer again and are just going to "wait and see".If you have any experience of it yourself either first of third hand some words of encouragement and support would be appreciated.

I have a bit of information on this on my website www.unplannedpregnancies.freeservers.com Don't be put off by the name, it does deal with the choices faced by women having an unplanned pregnancy but it also deals with antenatal depression, postnatal depression and post partum psychosis and their possible treatments. It also offers links to several other useful sites.

If her problem is hormonal, she may wish to try the 'Dalton Regime'. This is basically a progesterone treatment that aims to raise the progesterone levels in your body. She would have one injection a day for seven days immediately after the birth, and suppositories until she started her next period. This worked for me. But this doesn't work for all women, her problems may not be hormone related. She could also ask to be referred to a Community Psychatric Nurse who would be there for her throughout the pregnancy, up to the birth and beyond. Talking things through with someone often helps to stop anxiety building up which might contribute to this problem. CPN's are also trained to spot any potential mental problems and so they would act quickly.

I would advise your friend to change her GP to a more sympathetic one, and ask for help until she is blue in the face. You cannot have enough support and help at a time like this. Does she have a well women centre in her area she could visit? They should be listed in the phone book.

Good luck, do let us know how she gets on.

You'd probalby get help from the Association for PostNatal Illness. Don't have the website to hand but if you search for it with 'APNI' that should bring it up. They are based in London ut have people all over the country. Or the Experiences Register held by NCT should be able to put your friend in touch with someone. Try www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com.
HTH

I think (from a background of severe - been hospitalised - pnd) that she has to get her doctors to listen somehow. I was put back on my antidepressants before I gave birth the second time, and although I don't know if you can do that with antipsychotic drugs, it could be worth her finding out. I know it's not the same as pnd, but the principle, finding out if she can be helped ahead of time - is definitely worth it.