Signs of Postpartum Psychosis: What You Should Take Note of

It is very common for women to experience certain variations of mood changes and sensitivity. Postpartum psychosis is rare(0.2%),but there is a 50% risk of recurrence in the next pregnancy if experienced in the previous pregnancy. Most of the time, it is simply just the after effect of giving birth. To differentiate it from usual illnesses, you have to look out for the signs of postpartum psychosis.

The Different Signs of Postpartum Psychosis

There are three postpartum psychiatric illnesses:

• Postpartum blues
• Postpartum depression
• Its most severe form, postpartum psychosis.

Though the first two are primarily common among mothers, the third one appears to be rarer. It occurs only in 2 women out of 1000 after giving birth.

You might be able to easily spot the symptoms of this illness as its presentation is more on the dramatic side of things, where women might get triggered only 48 to 72 hours after giving birth. To identify immediately, here are some of the signs and symptoms you may have to look out for:

• Delusions or strange beliefs
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
• Feeling very irritated
• Hyperactivity
• Decreased need for or inability to sleep
• Paranoia and suspiciousness
• Rapid mood swings
• Difficulty communicating at times

The risk increases for mothers who has a history of mental disorders, like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and postpartum psychosis itself. 

What Are the Causes of Postpartum Psychosis

Suppose you or a family member has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or a variation of it. In that case, even if you have merely just experienced an episode, you might be mainly susceptible to postpartum psychosis.

Like any other postpartum illness, one of the main culprits and triggers of postpartum psychosis is hormonal imbalances and it changes right after childbirth. It is also very likely that you might develop or go through an episode if:

• You experienced intense mood swings during pregnancy
• You halted taking psychiatric medication during pregnancy

Its exact causes are yet to be known. The fluctuating hormone levels can be the leading cause, but there might be plenty of other factors like environmental, biological, and genetic. This is why it is vital to monitor and take care of women after childbirth.

Treatment and Seeking Help

Because of the high-risk dangers that postpartum psychosis can bring to a mother or her child, postpartum psychosis is considered a medical emergency. Once a mother is exhibiting or showing signs of postpartum psychosis or an episode, it is recommended to take them immediately to emergency centers and hospitals. Stabilizing the mother’s mood is the main priority to prevent danger to herself or the infant.

The treatments for postpartum psychosis reduce the tendencies of depression and help stabilize moods, which overall help decrease psychosis. Antibiotics and mood stabilizers help prevent hallucinations and manic episodes, which help immensely.

Key Takeaways

The signs of postpartum psychosis can show up immediately right after childbirth, and this can last from at least two to 12 weeks. It is normal to have anxieties and fears about raising a child or birth, but it is also essential to seek help whenever you fear you might be experiencing it.

Despite the chances of postpartum psychosis among every pregnancy and childbirth, it shouldn’t be something that will stop you from having a baby. Think of it as merely something you have to prepare for, and keep in mind that many doctors are willing to help and guide you throughout the process.

Postpartum psychosis also doesn’t translate into developing depression or psychosis itself. Still, it means that you should become aware of the signs of postpartum psychosis to know when to seek medical help when needed.

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