What is Postpartum Psychosis?
Many women fear postpartum psychosis because this is often what we hear about in the media. The incidence of psychosis is actually very low (.1% to .2%). There is some evidence that the condition runs in families and it is slightly more common in first pregnancies. Symptoms include disorientation, confusion, delusions, hallucinations, and often rapid mood changes, usually beginning in the first postpartum month. This is one of the most severe forms of mental illness and there is an increased risk of suicide and a risk of infanticide. While the risk of harming your baby is small, it does exist and if you are having any of these symptoms, you should not be alone with your baby and should seek professional care immediately. Postpartum psychosis is usually treated in a hospital with psychotropic medication. While it may take a long time to completely recover, many women show improvement within a few weeks.
