Supporting a Loved One with Postpartum Psychosis: A Guide for Families and Friends

Postpartum psychosis (PPP) is a severe mental health condition that affects some new mothers, typically within the first two weeks after childbirth. While it's a rare condition, affecting approximately 1 to 2 women out of 1,000 deliveries, its impact on both the mother and those around her can be profound. As a family member or friend, you play a crucial role in recognizing the symptoms, offering support, and ensuring that the mother receives the help she needs. In this guide, we will explore how to best support a loved one with postpartum psychosis, focusing on practical steps and expert advice while maintaining your own well-being.

Recognizing the Signs of Postpartum Psychosis

One of the most important roles you can play is to help identify the early signs of postpartum psychosis, as the individual may not realize they are unwell. Common symptoms include hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), delusions (strong false beliefs), severe mood swings, confusion, paranoia, and even thoughts of harming themselves or their baby. Unlike postpartum depression, which can also be serious, postpartum psychosis is considered a medical emergency that requires immediate attention​.

If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to take action quickly. This is not a situation where the person can “snap out of it,” and the faster they receive medical intervention, the better their chances of recovery.

Immediate Steps to Take: How to Respond

When you suspect postpartum psychosis, your first step should be ensuring safety. If there is any danger of harm to the mother or baby, call emergency services right away. Calmly express your concerns and ensure that the mother is in a safe environment. If hospitalization is needed, she may be admitted to a mother and baby unit (MBU), which allows the baby to stay with the mother, or to a general psychiatric unit, where family members or friends may need to help care for the baby​.It’s also essential to avoid confrontation. The mother might not understand she is ill or might feel paranoid about your intentions, so focus on being supportive, gentle, and calm.

Creating a Supportive Home Environment

Once your loved one is receiving medical care, creating a supportive environment at home is vital for her recovery. You can help by reducing stress in the home, keeping the space calm, and offering to take on household chores or child care responsibilities. It is important to minimize the number of visitors and allow the mother as much rest as possible. Sleep deprivation is a significant trigger for postpartum psychosis, so offering support in night-time baby care can be a huge relief​.

Encourage your loved one to stay involved with her baby’s care as much as she is able. Small acts, like changing the baby’s clothes or feeding, can help her bond and regain confidence in her role as a mother. This can be a slow process, but your reassurance and presence can make a big difference.

If in-person support is challenging due to location or time constraints, many families and individuals can benefit from online counselling in India, which provides accessible mental health care tailored to the unique needs of Indian families.

Long-Term Support: Recovery and Beyond

While the most severe symptoms of postpartum psychosis typically last between 2 to 12 weeks, full recovery can take several months. It’s important for families and friends to remain involved in the long term. Recovery doesn’t just mean the end of acute symptoms; it also involves rebuilding the mother’s confidence, managing the potential for depression or anxiety, and possibly preventing relapse​.

Family members can participate in therapy sessions with the mother to learn more about the condition, understand what triggers to look for, and help create a recovery plan. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often recommended as part of the treatment, alongside medication like antipsychotics or mood stabilizers​.

Supporting Yourself as a Caregiver

Caring for someone with postpartum psychosis can be emotionally draining, and it’s important to look after your own mental health too. Don’t hesitate to seek out support from mental health professionals, whether through counselling or peer support groups. Many organizations, like Action on Postpartum Psychosis, offer resources and communities specifically designed for caregivers​.

Talking with others who have gone through similar experiences can help you process your emotions and avoid burnout. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup, so self-care is critical in helping your loved one recover.

Debunking Myths About Postpartum Psychosis

There are many myths surrounding postpartum psychosis that can increase stigma and prevent mothers from seeking help. Some common misconceptions include:

Myth: Postpartum psychosis only affects women with a history of mental illness.

Fact: While a history of mental illness, particularly bipolar disorder, increases the risk, postpartum psychosis can occur in women with no prior psychiatric history​.

Myth: Postpartum psychosis means a mother doesn’t love her baby.

Fact: This condition is not a reflection of how a mother feels about her baby. It’s a severe psychiatric disorder that distorts perception and thinking, but with treatment, mothers can recover and build healthy relationships with their child​.

Encouraging Conversations About Mental Health

One of the best ways to support someone with postpartum psychosis is to help reduce the stigma surrounding it. Encouraging open conversations about mental health within the family and with friends can make a significant difference. This might include sharing educational resources about postpartum psychosis or joining support networks where others are discussing their own experiences​.

The more people talk openly about postpartum psychosis, the easier it will be for others to recognize the signs and seek help earlier, preventing tragic outcomes and promoting recovery.

Conclusion

Supporting a loved one with postpartum psychosis can be a challenging journey, but with the right information, resources, and emotional support, families and friends can play an essential role in their recovery. The key is to act quickly, provide practical and emotional support, and seek professional help as soon as possible.

Always remember, there are resources available for both the mother and her support network. Organizations like Postpartum Support International, Action on Postpartum Psychosis, and local mental health professionals can offer guidance, community, and help throughout the recovery process​.

About the Author

Naincy Priya is a Senior Psychologist at Click2Pro, where she brings her extensive experience and deep understanding of mental health to help individuals and families navigate complex psychological issues. Specializing in maternal mental health, Naincy is particularly passionate about raising awareness around postpartum mental health conditions like postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Her expertise lies in providing empathetic, evidence-based support to both mothers and their support systems, ensuring holistic care and recovery.

With a rich background in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, and perinatal psychology, Naincy helps create personalized recovery plans that cater to the unique needs of each patient. She believes in the power of community and emotional support, working closely with families to help them better understand and manage mental health conditions.

FAQs 

1.What should you do if someone you know has postpartum psychosis?

The first step is ensuring immediate safety. Contact a healthcare provider, emergency services, or a crisis team right away. Postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency that requires urgent care.

2.Can postpartum psychosis go away on its own?

No, postpartum psychosis cannot resolve on its own. It requires treatment, usually involving hospitalization, medication, and therapy. Without treatment, the condition can worsen and pose serious risks to both mother and baby.

3.How long does it take to recover from postpartum psychosis?

Recovery can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the severity of the episode and the effectiveness of the treatment. Support from family, friends, and healthcare providers is crucial during this time.

4.Can postpartum psychosis be prevented?

While postpartum psychosis cannot be entirely prevented, women with a high risk (such as those with a history of bipolar disorder) can reduce their chances through pre-birth planning and close monitoring during and after pregnancy.

5.Is postpartum psychosis genetic?

There is a genetic component to postpartum psychosis, especially for those with a family history of the condition or other psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder. However, it can still occur in women with no family history.