Gran Looking For A Reason.

[liz mccallum]

Hi there, My daughter is in hospital recovering from Puerperal Psychosis after giving birth 9 weeks ago to my wonderfull grandson Callum. I would like to ask all who have ever been diagnosed as having Puerperal Psychosis if they gave birth before the 40 weeks or were they late. My daughter is asking why her and I cannot answer. The only thing I can think of is that she was 42 weeks pregnant before she was induced and it got me thinking if this had any significance. I know this will not help her but if there is reason why women who go over their time have a greater risk of getting this the doctors should never let a woman go over the 40 weeks.

[dave]

My wife gave birth at 34 weeks, so no correlation there. I've not researched it thoroughly, but I found a few sites that suggested a difficult birth [i]may[/i] be a risk factor. My wife, for instance, aside from being early had to have a manual removal of the placenta, which meant she was away from her son for a good 3 hours immediately after the birth.

Ultimately there are no real "reasons" I think - just bad luck. I hope your daughter recovers soon - and do remember that she will recover - it just takes patience and a hell of a lot of understanding.

[liz mccallum]

Thanks Dave for your answer. My daughter was taken into hospital to be induced. She was given the gel that night. She complained of pain and was told that it was cramps from the gel and was advised to lie in a bath. She lay in a bath for 3 hours and continued to ask for pain relief. She was told to get out of bath and they would have :a look:. My daughter was fully dilated and ready to push. No pain relief had been given. Her husband just made it in time. Because she is a nurse in the same hospital they thought they were doing her a favour by putting her in a side room. This was wrong as they didn't realise she was not sleeping. If she had been in a ward they perhaps would have seen this. It was only 4 days after being discharged that she started behaving weird, saying her dead grandparents were telling her to hurt her baby and telling her she had to write a book and that she was an angel. She has had 10 Electic shock treatments and is getting another on Tuesday. She is getting better and hope to get her home soon, Thanks again.

[Frankie]

Hi Liz
There is a significant link to PP and bad birth experience. I had PP after the birth of my son nearly 3 years ago after a near 3 day labour and eventual delivery by forceps.
I feel for your daughter, she will always want answers to this, unfortunately there are none. She will want someone/something to blame but there is nothing, unfortunately she is one of the unlucky ones (1in 1000). It feels like the pain and thoughts will never go but it does lessen. I took me a long time to come to terms. I am now pregnant again at 23 weeks, dreading getting PP again (58% chance) but willing to risk it as my son is worth it.
There is a group you can contact who does research and can give you info
Action on Puerperal psycosis www.neuroscience.bham.ac.uk/research/app/
029 20742284
Good luck
Frankiex

[liz mccallum]

Thank you for your reply Frankie. I may be very selfish but I hope and pray my daughter does not have another child as I don't think she could go through this again. She was home for a few hours yesterday and was able to bath her baby. She is a childrens nurse and can't understand why she is so scared when handling her own baby. She cannot remember the birth and her memory is very short. I think this is because of the 10 electric shock treatments she has had. The doctors say she will get another 2 and hopefully she should be able to return home. I hope and pray for you Frankie that you are fine and healthy after your next birth. God looks down at you and he will take care of you. I will tell you what I told my daughter. You have to be special to get this as it is 1 in 1000. You take care.

[dave]

Well, my wife has had number 2 and it was a good deal easier than number 1, though still an "interesting" birth. The difference with the second is that everyone knows it might to happen and you're managed that little bit more closely - not intrusively, but more closely.

So don't worry if you are waiting for number 2 (or 3) - it can be done with due care and no hospital.

[liz mccallum]

Thanks Dave for your reply. Congratulations on the birth of your second and hope your wife keeps well. I realise you cannot be sure this PP might happen again and I realise I am being very selfish but I am not sure I could watch my daughter going through this again. It will be up to her and her husband. If they decide to have another I know I will be there to help. My daughter was home again for a few hours yesterday and going for another electric shock treatment today. They hope it won't be long till she is home for good. The worse thing is when she asks why her? and I have no answers. Thanks again. P.S. There should be more in the media about this. I am 51 and I had never heard of this before. Neither have my friends.

[dave]

[quote]There should be more in the media about this. I am 51 and I had never heard of this before. Neither have my friends.[/quote]
Absolutely. Coronation Street missed a trick with Claire to raise awareness. I suspect they're afraid to tackle such a severe condition with all the stigma that goes with it, but they could easily have done an educational piece.

[liz mccallum]

Hi All, Great news. After receiving 12 Electric Shock Treatments my daughter got out of hospital today to stay in her own home for 3 days. After that they will review her to see if she can stay the weekend and then with a view for her to be discharged. They are slowly decreasing her medication. She has lost a few memories (she can't remember giving birth) but she is looking and talking a great deal better than she did. For all of you who wrote saying that she would get better I can tell you now I did not believe you but you were so right. For any people who are going through this nightmare wither daughter, wife, sister etc please take heart and know this will end and it will get better. I have shed many a tear in the last 13 weeks and I have also shed a tear when she came home. Big party will be organised to celebrate her return. The biggest tears were shed when she was re-united with her son who she hadn't seen for several weeks. God bless all of you who have suffered this.

[Frankie]

Hi Liz
So glad the prognosis is good. Don't forget to mention this site if your daughter needs to talk...she will. My Mum finds it hard even now to tlk to me about it, its been 3 years, its always easier to talk to someone who had been thru it..that is meant with no disrespect to yourself.
Good luck with everything
Frankiex

[liz mccallum]

Thanks Frankie for your reply. I wish my daughter will enter this site and speak to you but as she has forgotten all about the birth and her stay in hospital before her 6th electric shock treatment I don't know if she will. I have told her that I have been in this site and asking questions. Perhaps she will. I as a mother will always want to know why it was my daughter who has never had an illness in her life had to get this. I am here for my daughter if she wishes to talk to me about it but I feel she doesn't require to know what she did or said during this illness. I just need to say that this illness effects all family members. I know even now when asked how she is doing my heart breaks and I cant speak because the lump in my throat gets bigger and I shed tears. My daughter was at hospital today after weekend at home and was given a weeks pass and if she is still good next week she will be discharged with nurses visiting. Happy days.

[Frankie]

Hi Liz
Perhaps thats for the best, I wish I couldn't remember anything...it still haunts me.
Still crossing fingers that next time will be better, due to have a c-section in 12 weeks time.
Good luck for the future
Frankiex

[liz mccallum]

Hi Frankie, I will be praying for you that all goes well for you. I know it's easy for me to say and will be very hard for you to do but try and put the memories of the last birth aside and look forward to having a wonderful baby to hold in your arms. God bless you and my thoughts and prayers are with you at all times.

[Lottie]

I'm just starting to come through this illness, after getting the right medication and lots of wonderful support from my husband, his parents and my family / friends.  The one thing I would say about the bad moments I've had is that it really is important how other people around you react to the bad moments.  I think it's best for family and friends to just show how they much care but without looking too worried - I just found that the more anxiety people around me were showing, the more anxious I felt about how I could cope!  And strangely, although I believed that the medical profession were out to get me at one point (I had a bad experience with my hospital during pregnancy and birth), I was able to put my trust in a mental health team that does home visits (Crisis).  I think you can ask for this service anywhere and I have found it really great, but it's really important that the family also attends the sessions with the team so that they know exactly what's going on and can seek help whenever needed.  I have to say that having another child scares me a lot but I just want to concentrate of the first one for the moment and will think about the idea of a second as and when!  I live in Forest Hill, S.E. London and will shortly be returning home after my period of recovery with the in-laws.  I'm a bit nervous about returning home as I don't want the illness to return, so it would be really good to meet up with anyone who has had similar experiences living in South london area.  Anyone out there want to meet up?  And by the way, it really does help to have a good sense of humour about all this if you can!  Not so easy, but it does help...

[liz mccallum]

Hi Lottie, I am so glad you are on the road to recovery. I can say one thing and that is you will look back and always wonder why you? I am so proud to say that my daughter is back to work. She works in the sick kids ward in the local hospital and is doing well. I can honestly say she is back to her usual self. The only problem she has is that she can't get life insurrance. I think this is discrimination but to fight this with a lawyer I expect would cost a lot of money which she doesn't have. Anyway you take care of yourself and I'm so sorry that we stay in Scotland because my daughter would love to talk to you.  With kind regards    Liz