Speaking as a husband

[rugbynut2004]

Hello, My wife has PPP and we have been on this journey 1month 1week and 1 day so far, I can honestly say I have my wife back now, it's absolutely heartbreaking to see that flame go out in her eyes at the start but with the support from family and friends and a top class job by Basildon Maternity ward she was sent to a MBU where she has got back to being herself again. No more confusion, just pure love for our son and it's just so positive to know that the treatment works, no matter how long It takes. So to all the partners of the women going through this there is a light!! no matter how hard it is at the beginning, it will take time, patience and love but you will get them back. I have cried over how hard it is, I never cried in front my of my wife until this Father's Day when she was allowed out, I took my wife and son for a meal local to the MBU where she gave me a card from my son with his footprints and some beautiful words and I broke down after being so strong for them. Doesn't make us any less of a man just shows we love them to pieces.

Hope this helps anybody who's partner is going through this.! Don't give up on them.!

Ryan

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hello rugbynut2004

Thanks for your post which will be a great comfort to family and friends of mums experiencing PP. I remember your very encouraging reply to a mum a few weeks ago whose daughter had PP and I'm pleased you have written your own post so that you can be supported too.

I'm glad your wife is making steady progress and receiving good care in the MBU. I'm sure it was a great relief to see the difference when your wife was allowed out for a short while. It's good to cry now and then to release all the emotion you must have held in for so long. I had PP many years ago and didn't realize how much stress I put on my husband and family as I wasn't communicating and suspicious of everyone for a while. I was sectioned under general psychiatric mixed care and remember after a while going out of the unit with my husband. I went out for a few hours at first, then for an afternoon, building up to an overnight stay over a number of weeks to gradually regain my confidence.

I hope you are managing to have time out for yourself as the MBU is far away from your home. I'm sure your wife is so pleased to see you and it gives you time as a family. There is a good account of a dad's journey through PP entitled "Husband in a Storm" the link being app-network.org/wp-content/... which is very well written. I think you might have seen the APP Guides but here's the link just in case, app-network.org/what-is-pp/...

Take good care of yourself and thanks again for sharing your experience. I hope your wife continues to improve.

[rugbynut2004 in reply to Lilybeth]

Hi Lilybeth

Thanks and yeh I read that story it's very interesting, my wife was the other side of that spectrum she was happy happy but still it's great to hear dads/partners sides to this as we all deal with it differently.

I'm absolutely fine with the support and rest I have had hank you

Ryan

[Lilybeth Volunteer in reply to rugbynut2004]

Hello Ryan

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm glad you have support for yourself.

Best wishes.

[MaryMary007]

RYAN

they are such lovely words of encouragement

My husband was left to mind our 3 week old daughter when I was admitted to hospital we have no MBU in Ireland

I remember he had just started a new senior position so was already quiet stressed! Luckily he has great family support as I was in for 10 weeks

I got sick again 2 years later and much of the same thing we can now look back on these times positively and think of all we have been through in such a small time

As Post natal psychosis is so uncommon it hits you like a tonne of bricks when it happens my husband didn t know what the he'll was happening with me and of course I was oblivious to the whole thing

So well done all those dad's out there it's certainly one journey that you will remember but as you said I promise there is a good light at the end of the tunnel

All the best nickey

[Hazello Volunteer]

Such a lovely message- I know that the support of my husband is what helped me to get through so it brought tears to my eyes reading about it from the other side! I hope that she continues to recover well, it can take a long time to fully recover after getting over the psychosis element but I hope that your wife will continue onwards and upwards.

Best wishes

Hazello+