The Mental Status of a Mother While She Is Pregnant

Symptoms of postpartum psychosis are “delusions or strange beliefs, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), feeling very irritated, decreased need or inability to sleep, paranoia, rapid mood swings and difficulty communicating at times”. (“Postpartum Psychosis”, 2009)

There is increasing awareness of perinatal mental health as a public health issue. The Government is keen for midwives to further develop their role in public health. Midwives need to be adequately prepared to take on a more developed role in perinatal mental health if practice improvements are to be made. I am aware that death from psychiatric causes has been the leading cause of maternal death for the last few years. Although the most recent Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health indicated that this is no longer a leading cause, mental health problems before and after childbirth have a significant impact on the health of women, family relationships and children’s subsequent

It is a rare illness that occurs in approximately 1 to 2 per 1000 women after childbirth. Its presentation is often dramatic, with onset of symptoms as early as the first 48 to 72 hours after delivery. The majority of women with puerperal psychosis develop symptoms within the first two postpartum weeks. Symptoms of postpartum physics often include delusions or strange beliefs, hallucinations, decreased need for or inability to sleep, paranoia and suspiciousness. The most significant risk factors for postpartum psychosis are a personal or family history of bipolar disorder, or a previous psychotic episode. Postpartum psychosis is different from the baby blues; 70% of new mothers experience the baby blues, which is a short-lasting condition that does not impact their daily functioning and does

Mental health has become an important factor in a persons well-being and is recognized as having the same importance as physical health. The mental health of a person can determine how they act in society. Their mood and behavior can be severely affected in ways that family or friends don’t understand. A mood disorder that has a significant affect on family members is called postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that occurs in women who have given birth a few weeks prior. This mood disorder is diagnosed after two months or even longer, new mother can be continuously sad throughout the day and feel as though not having a connection with their baby. Doctors are not able to know which mother will have postpartum depression

According to two recent studies, 7-13% of all postpartum women suffer from depression. Even more alarming, the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in mothers who have pre-term infants rises to 30-40% according to a recent review (Robertson E, Grace S, Wallington T, Stewart DE., 2004; Schmied V, Johnson M, Naidoo N, et al., 2013). Mood and anxiety disorders, specifically PPD, are severe, yet common complications in women of reproductive age. Undertreated depression in postpartum women is associated with health risks for both the mother and infant, making the goal of euthymia a top priority in the care of postpartum women. Current practice regarding PPD focuses on the triad approach of early detection and prevention, the use of pharmacotherapy, and the use of psychotherapy. However, the treatment of mental illness during pregnancy requires weighing the benefits of pharmacological treatment for the mother, to the risk of the medications on the growth and development of the fetus as well as the theoretical risks associated with undertreated depression. However, many studies are showing that the risks of postpartum depression to both the mother and infant significantly outweigh the risks of pharmacological treatment during pregnancy. Also, due to the ethical issues surrounding trials of pharmacotherapy during pregnancy, further research to determine evidenced-based methods of treatment are still necessary. The most important intervention to date is a

An article on postpartum depression states “70 to 80 percent of women who have given birth experience what are called the ‘baby blues’ or the ‘fourth-day blues’ “(Postpartum Depression). The “baby blues” and “fourth-day blues” have symptoms of mood-swings, unhappiness, anxiety, irritability, or restlessness and these symptoms will often go away or lessen without medical intervention (Postpartum Depression). If someone experiences these symptoms they are not automatically classified with having PPD.

Having a baby can be the most wonderful feeling in the world . Becoming a mother, especially a first time mother can be really stressing; some women are at greater risk for developing Postpartum Depression. Postpartum Depression is depression that occurs after childbirth and causes hormonal changes. In addition, there are three types of Postpartum moods Postpartum Blues , Postpartum Depression, and Postpartum Psychosis. Postpartum Blues affects mothers in the first weeks of postpartum , Postpartum Depression affects mothers in the first year, and Postpartum Psychosis occurs in the first three months of postpartum.

It’s common for women to experience the “baby blues” — feeling stressed, sad, anxious, lonely, tired or weepy — following their baby’s birth. But some women, up to 1 in 7, experience a much more serious mood disorder — postpartum depression. (Postpartum psychosis, a condition that may involve psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations, is a different disorder and is very rare.) Unlike the baby blues, PPD doesn’t go away on its own. It can appear days or even months after delivering a baby; it can last for many weeks or months if left untreated. PPD can make it hard for you to get through the day, and it can affect your ability to take care of your baby, or yourself. PPD can affect any woman—women with easy pregnancies or problem pregnancies,

Postpartum depression (PPD) is one type of mood disorders seen in the postpartum period. Other types include postpartum blues and postpartum psychosis. While postpartum blues is common (15-85%) and usually does not require treatment, postpartum psychosis is much rarer (1%). Often postpartum blues is a risk factor for later development of PPD. Incidence of PPD falls between the other two affecting about 15% of new mothers.

Psychosis is further accompanied with schizophrenia and has an onset of three months but can appear 18-24 months postpartum(6).

Pregnancy and childbirth is a miraculous part of everyday life. The female body is able to carry a developing baby and bring another life into the world. However along with this great phenomenon, can come illness and mood disorders. Postpartum Depression is a serious and very common mental health problem that affects women after giving birth. It is a period of time when the new mother experiences changes in her hormonal level and develops signs of depression. Based on previous medical and personal history, certain women are believed to be at a high risk for Postpartum Depression. The DSM lists multiple symptoms of Postpartum Depression that are similar to those of other depression mood disorders. Research and experiments have been done to learn more about the risks, symptoms and treatment methods of Postpartum Depression.

It is defined as baby blues lasting longer than two weeks or could even manifest weeks or months after childbirth (BC Reproductive Mental Health Program, 2011). Ten to eleven percent of postpartum women develop a more serious condition of either depression or anxiety or both (MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health, 2015). This is considered as a mental health issue which could include other conditions like postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and psychosis according to Howard, L. M., Molyneaux, E., Dennis, C., Rochat, T., Stein, A., & Milgrom, J.

Post-Partum Depression is characterized first and foremost as an irritable, debilitating form of depression manifesting within four weeks to thirty weeks of giving birth (Andrews-Fike, 1999). Every patient present with various types and levels of symptoms. Symptoms can include those similar to other depressive disorders such as insomnia, fatigue, and anxiety. Giallo, 2015 assessed several emotions in their study including fear, blame, and anxiety. Sadness, helplessness, and tiredness were also included. Finally, suicidal thoughts were addressed. All of these are possible symptoms under PPD.

Postpartum psychosis is the maximum form of postpartum psychiatric illness. It is a rare event that occurs in approximately 1 to 2 per 1000 women after childbirth. Due to the extenuating circumstances in Andrea Yates case one could adequately say that she happened to be surely suffering with postpartum psychosis. Andrea Yates happened to be suffering from a mental illness that led her to drown all four of her children. With the extreme religious convictions and lack of care given by Dr. Mohammed Saeed Andrea Yates dealt with her delusions the only way she knew how.

Once a woman has a child, her life is changed forever. Some women react differently during and after their pregnancy. Postpartum psychosis is something they can develop after childbirth which is harmful for both the mother and the child. With no true meaning as to how one develops postpartum psychosis, not many people are aware of the psychosis and how difficult it can be to deal with.