postpartum psychosis
DESCRIPTION
Postpartum Psychosis . my JOURNEY THROUGH Motherhood & madness. We seemed “ prepared ” for parenthood. A “fairy tale” wedding… . … Followed by much-hoped-for pregnancy & a new house!. What could possibly go wrong?. Numerous “false starts” & two weeks overdue - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
MY JOURNEY THROUGH MOTHERHOOD & MADNESS
Postpartum Psychosis
A “fairy tale” wedding… … Followed by much-hoped-for pregnancy & a new house!
We seemed “prepared” for parenthood
What could possibly go wrong?
Result: a healthy 4kg baby boy – but a seriously unwell mum
Numerous “false starts” & two weeks overdue
Failure to progress after gruelling 3 day “back” labour
Cervix swollen & obstructed (from 9cm back to 4cm)
Uterus exhausted
Lengthy (and terrifying) emergency C-section followed by severe blood loss (3.5 litres)
Extreme sleep deprivation
We were physically shattered, but so grateful for James’ safe arrival
The media gives us: Reality:
New motherhood was not how I imagined
Unbeknown to us, the “perfect storm” of risk factors had gathered…
Within 24 hours…
Psychosis
Sleep deprivation
Infection & fever
(Unknown) family history
Worries over
breastfeeding
Traumatic labour
Previous episodes of depression
Catatonia & Delirium
I’m sorry, I think I’m insane. I love you.
I’m causing the end of the world..
I’ve killed everyone, but me, locked in this cell.
I will slowly suffocate to death
Where did my life end and
this nightmare
begin?
Heart about to stop?
Stomach about to explode?
Did I die? Is
this hell?
My baby was in the care of the nurses, going for daily walks with Daddy, in his shiny new pram.
Even in a psychotic state, I was encouraged to spend time with James, under careful supervision.
Admission to MBU: “there” but not there…
Daily visits from daddy.. … and James thrived
I had moments of lucidity
A “break through”A session with the MBU’s Child Psychologist was a break-through.
As she showed me how to make James smile, I started to see James as a real person, and not just a facet of my illness or a thing to be feared.
First home leave from the MBU – Christmas Day!A long shower, a simple lunch (just the 3 of us) and a chance to show James around his home for the first time.
From this day, my home leave gradually built up until I only went back to the MBU for my formal discharge meeting at the end of January.
Home for good
Brought to you by…
Midwife
Obstetricians
GP
Health Visitor
Perinatal Psychiatrist
Child Psychologis
tMental Health Nurse
Auxiliary staff
Husband & Daddy
Our family
PANDAS
Paramedics
Our friends &
neighbours
APP
A&E staff
Me & James
Twitter & Facebook
communities
KATHRYN CAN BE FOUND ON TWITTER @KATGRANT30
&HTTP: / /BUMPSANDGRIND.BLOGSPOT.CO.UK
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PP, PLEASE VISIT
WWW.APP-NETWORK.ORG
Thanks for listening