Post partum psychosis ?

[postpartumproblems]

Hello. I had puerperal psychosis/post partum psychosis after the birth of my DD 3 years ago. I was sectioned and admitted to a mother and baby unit for treatment. I was unlucky in that 5 months later I developed post natal depression in addition. I am now pregnant again and concerned about what will happen this time around as my risk is now over 50% of it reoccurring as opposed to the initial risk of 0.01%

I have been advised to start on olanzapine immediately post partum and continue on it for 6 months. I gained a LOT of weight after taking this last time and am still overweight as a result. I also want to breast feed and did while I was sectioned and for ten weeks after my DD was born. I stopped last time as I couldn't decide if it was 'safe' to be feeding her whilst on those drugs and was in no fit state of mind to do any research!

Has anyone suffered from this and managed to stay well after second or subsequent births?

No experience as this is my first but I am dx with bipolar II which is ultra rapid cycling. Been stable for a while but becoming more and more unstable (27 weeks) Was told by consultant psych that it would be best if I didn't become pregnant but also recognised that that was unrealistic. Sha gave me about a 90% chance of developing PND, however, wasn't given any warning about antenatel depression which I have now developed.

I guess my only advice is that at least now you know what to look for/warning signs as do others around you so it can be caught early and medicated rather than ending up in sectioning again. xx

I can't give you the answer you want, but it's only one persons story and it's not my story.

When my MIL had DH she suffered with post partum pyscosis and she was sectioned. She had no recolection that she'd even had a baby. She was in hospital for 5 months whilst grandparents looked after DH as DH's dad was working overseas. She was given elctroshock therapy and for the long term put on meds. She was told at that point not to have any more children as it would happen again, however she fell pregnant with my SIL about six months after coming out of hospital. When SIL was born the same thing happened again and this time it took much longer for her to recover, it was at this point that she was also diagnosed with bipolar. Shortly after she got diviorced and spent the rest of her life in and out of hospital. She had good times and bad times, another (bad) marriage and almost permenant visits into/out of hospital. Her last visit to hospital was in December 2008 during another period of pyscosis, she wasn't watched, walked out and was found dead 5 days later (accidental death but due to wrong meds and being unstable she wasn't able to look after herself).

Perhaps I have just told you the worst side of it and there are plenty of people out there who go onto to have complication free second children. What I do think is that when she had her children (25 years ago) there weren't half the meds, care or advice that they have now. I completely understand where you are coming from, you want to breastfeed because you missed out before but mainly because you feel it's best for your baby. What's best for your baby is to have you though. If you have been advised that you should take this medication then in my opinion you should take them.

I would also suggest that you make sure you have a good understanding network of friends/family who can not only offer you support but to make sure that if anything does happen to you that they make sure you get the right treatment for you and not just textbook treatment (everyone is different).

Maybe try this in the mental health section, as its a relatively rare condition, might be more chance of catching someone who has been through this there?

You can ask your doctor about the meds and BF, or do some googling? I would definitely take the meds though, if it were me, rather than BF (if BF isn't advisable with them) or worry about weight gain.