Puerperal Psychosis and Bipolar

[Wodger]

I have just found the mood traker which may answer some of my questions, but one I have now is has anyone out there had puerperal psychosis and later been diagnosed with bipolar?

I had severve postnatal pyschotic depression after my first kid 11 years ago (hid it for too long for it to be classed as puerperal pyschosis) then 4 years later had puerperal psychosis after by 2nd kid. I have been up and down ever since, three hospital episodes for severe depression with psychosis and lots of 'in the pit times since' On the plus side I have had what could be classed as hypermanic episodes when I have been the life and soul of everything. (fortunately never got myself into any trouble, possible due to really good friends and lack of money to spend)

I recently went to uni to train as an occupational therapist and looking back over the three years my marks go up and down according to my mood!! from scraped passes and defferments due to black dog times! to 100% in my dissertation when I was working all hours and felt I ruled the world!

I haven't been diagnosed with bipolar as I have learnt to manage things fairly well, but as I am sure you all know its really really hard work and mentally tiring watching for the signs, also very tempting to go with the highs and enjoy it while it lasts but paying for it with the slippery slope after. Outsiders think I may be bipolar, including my vicar and GP. I am not sure if I want to have a diagnosis or not. sorry I waffle on. any advice or similar soulmates pleas reply.all the best to you all.

[Wodger]

Yeah I know I this been there got the t shirt, tried to throw my kid out the window, spent months in hospital. But that was 7 plus years ago. but I still get awful ups and downs and was wondering if there is a link to bipolar and as some literature says childbirth made it rear its ugly head?
Thanks for your reply though a great synopsis of what Puerperal psychosis is, however its as common as 1 in 500
Wodger

[Jikan]

Namaste,

Puerperal Psychosis

Postnatal illness is a term which covers three degrees of mental illness which can occur after the birth of a baby. The mildest and shortest lived of these is the baby blues, and the most severe form is puerperal psychosis. Between these two extremes lies postnatal depression (PND), which can itself vary in severity.

Puerperal psychosis is fortunately a relatively rare illness, and affects only between one and three mothers per thousand.

The causes of puerperal psychosis are not known with absolute certainty, but it is generally agreed that it is probably triggered by the sudden drop in the pregnancy hormones (progesterone, oestrogen, etc.) immediately after delivery. Women with a previous or family history of mental illness are at a higher risk of developing
puerperal psychosis, particularly if they have had a previous episode associated with childbirth, but it can also occur in women with no previous or family history of mental illness.

The onset of puerperal psychosis is usually very sudden, and in more than 80% of cases within the first two weeks after delivery. Occasionally onset may be more gradual and the illness may go undetected for several weeks or, rarely, months.

The symptoms of puerperal psychosis vary, but they are usually quite florid. Manic or depressive symptoms tend to dominate, but occasionally there may be schizophrenic symptoms, or a combination of these.

If the mother becomes manic, she will seem very excited and elated, and it may be difficult to persuade her that anything is wrong. She will often talk very quickly, not completing sentences, jumping from one subject to another. She may be overactive, not eating, not sleeping, and rushing from one task to another. She may believe that she is invulnerable and capable of anything – driving at 100mph down the motorway, spending
money like water. Attempts to control or restrain her may result in violent or abusive outbursts.

Often a manic phase may be followed by a severely depressive phase. The mother may become withdrawn and unresponsive. She may spend long periods of the day crying uncontrollably or staring blankly into space. Speech and thought become slow and she may find it difficult to concentrate, or to remember things. Her appetite may also be affected – she may either feel unable to eat or may binge uncontrollably. Sleep patterns
are frequently disturbed – many mothers suffer from insomnia, others want to sleep all day, but feel unrefreshed by sleep. She may also become intensely anxious, and panicky. Obsessional, inappropriate thoughts may cause her acute distress and she may feel detached from the baby, her partner and reality.
She is likely to feel intensely guilty and inadequate, ashamed of her inability to care for her baby and herself.

She may become suicidal, or consider killing her baby.

Occasionally women suffering from puerperal psychosis experience delusions or hallucinations. She may become convinced that she has not had a baby, that she has been given the wrong baby, or that she has given birth to Jesus Christ or the devil. She may feel that she herself has somehow become contaminated and evil, and that she is contaminating those around her. Or she may believe that her partner and family are trying to kill or harm her or the baby. She may hear voices, or see people and things which are not there.

In this state of severe mental confusion, she may be a risk to herself, her baby and those around her, and will need urgent medical treatment.

Since puerperal psychosis mimicks many of the symptoms of biploar disorder, treatment fo the disorder is often similar, including the use of mood stabilizers an atypical anti-psychotics.

In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary and appropriate.

If your symptoms are severe, I encourage you to seek immediate medical treatment, otherwise unless already being treated, you should seek the advice of a mental health provider for a thorough evaluation and development of a treatment plan.

I hope this information helps.

Michael(Jikan)