RaMa Mama Doula Share: Perinatal Mental Health...

Lindsay Clancy has sparked some very important conversations in the world lately. Her trial in Massachusetts has put Postpartum Psychosis and Maternal Mental Health under the spotlight for us all to discuss and bring awareness to. As a Birth Doula, I find it very important to both learn more about it and to talk about it with my clients. Let's explore this topic a little deeper...

Postpartum Psychosis may be rare (1-2 cases for every 1000 births), but it is a psychiatric emergency that can cause hallucinations, delusions, severe confusion, extreme mood changes, and a loss of connection with reality. It can develop rapidly after childbirth and cause the woman to cause harm to herself or her baby. The question is, can a Birth Doula recognize the onset of this dis-ease before it results in a tragedy? What are the signs, and do some women start showing them before the baby is born? The research I have read on this topic tells the full story.

First of all, Doulas cannot diagnose diseases. However, the Doula may be one of the first people outside of the home to notice things changing due to the intimate connection that the birth mother and Doula have. The shifts and changes are more subtle than not. It may have more to do with small shifts in energy levels, sleep patterns, and thoughts/beliefs. There can be signs of unusual excitement, the need for very little rest, unusual chattiness, irritability, anxiety, or manic behavior. When there is a pattern of dramatic change in these areas, then it can be an early warning signal. Postpartum Psychosis comes with signs of manic depression. Happy to scared to angry to happy to confused to talkative, etc. can all take place within a short period of time. There can be signs of paranoia, hallucinations, sounds that don't exist, strange beliefs, a shift in perception of reality, confusion, or even disorientation. All of these signs can actually start to show up before the baby is born. However, 90% of Postpartum Psychosis occurs within the first four weeks after delivery. Either way, when there is insomnia, mood shifts, paranoia, racing thoughts, manic episodes, and unusual agitation, then the possibility of developing the dis-ease becomes higher. Just because these symptoms are present, doesn't, however, mean that the mother will develop Postpartum Psychosis either. It is all a case by case situation. The woman could have a history of mental illness or not, Postpartum Psychosis doesn't discriminate. If the signs are there, it is best to get a professional involved right away. As soon as there is any talk about hurting herself, the baby, or anyone else, then emergency help is needed on the spot. Because things can shift dramatically over just a few hours, it is important to get help right away and not to wait. As a community, we are here to look after one another. Learning more about these types of dis-eases and how we can all do our part to help out can be very beneficial.