Postpartum

[SHaron154abbie]

I suffer with postpartum psychosis in 2015 when I had my little girl I would love to have another baby would I suffer again I read up it 70% RISK

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hi SHaron154abbie

Welcome to the forum

I had PP after my first baby in 2012 and went on to have another baby last year with no recurrence.

I had no history of mental illness and it was completely out of the blue. I've so far had no issues since and was advised that my risk with baby number 2 was around 50%.

You would be at increased risk if you had pre-existing issues with your mental health but I don't think you'll get an exact figure. I'd say try not to get hung up on figures anyway, it'll either happen or it won't - remember half of us were at about 0.1% risk first time around and here we are - but you can definitely plan and prepare and put things in place to try and reduce the risk and know what to do if PP did strike again, hopefully meaning if you did get unwell again it would be picked up and treated very quickly and wouldn't be as severe second time around.

I'd really recommend you look at the insider guides on the APP website, there's one for planning pregnancy when at high risk of PP which is really useful - app-network.org/what-is-pp/...

If you're in the U.K. you might have access to the second opinion service with Prof Ian Jones - app-network.org/what-is-pp/.... I spoke to him with my husband prior to deciding about trying for another baby and it was incredibly helpful for discussing risks and options.

You'll also find lots of advice and shared experiences on here by having a look at previous posts, or just ask away

I hope this helps.

Best wishes, J x

[SHaron154abbie in reply to Jenny_at_APP]

I didn't have no mental health issues I was treated all wrong on my first child they didn't realise I was suffer with postpartum psychosis I would love to give my daughter a brother or sister but I afraid

[Lilybeth Volunteer in reply to SHaron154abbie]

Hello SHaron154abbie

Thanks for your post. I'm sorry you didn't receive the right diagnosis when your daughter was born. Like you, many of us had never had a mental illness until PP hit.

J-B 55 has given some very good links above. I think if you live in the UK the second opinion service with Prof Jones would be very helpful. It's a free service and you can be referred via your G.P. or Psychiatrist. I met Prof Jones and some of his team a few years ago and he kindly confirmed my diagnosis of PP. My PP was a long time ago and I fully recovered but didn't know until I met Prof Jones what I had suffered with.

You are very wise to consider your options and I wish you all the best.

Take care.

[SHaron154abbie]

They had me escorted out of the hospital to ambulance and then I was section to a locked place separate from my daughter I was only allowed to see her for twice a day I was in the place for five days then I was transferred to Bournemouth to mother and baby uniting when I live in South Wales the staff down there were brilliant to us my parents where brilliant because that all I done was asleep on the medication that I was taken I was down Bournemouth ffrom 18th March to 31st March I was on medication until last December when I just stop taken it I was under a social worker because of this postpartum psychosis my partner and me would love to have a second baby but I thinking really hard about it because of my daughter if I went ill who would look after her

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hello SHaron154abbie

Good to hear from you. I'm glad you were eventually transferred to a mother and baby unit after being sectioned and separated from your daughter. I was also sectioned but when I had my son there were no mother and baby units so I was separated and in different general psychiatric units for the first six months.

This forum is a great place to 'meet' other mums and share experiences. You are doing very well as it took me almost two years to find my place again. I think awareness and treatment of PP has changed so much for the better. I did have PP a second time, six years apart, and eventually fully recovered. As I mentioned earlier, my PP was a long time ago and there are mums here, as with J-B-55 for whom thankfully PP did not return. There is also a brilliant blog, ppsoup.com which might be interesting for you to read, including an interview with Prof Jones.

Take care.

[SHaron154abbie]

Where do I find prof Jones ? My partner wrecked it come on me because I thought my daughter was dieing when we had to go cardiff hospital because she Was sick but she 2 now and into everything he said I wrecked there was camera everywhere I went I was being watch it was awful but I glad I stop taken the medi December by myself at the moment I have the INecton to stop me getting pregnant but I love to try for one but I afraid

[Ellie_at_APP Partner]

Hi

I just wanted to give you the link for the second opinion psychiatry service with Dr Ian jones. You will need to be referred by your GP or mental health team. The link is here : app-network.org/what-is-pp/...

I hope that's helpful

Ellie

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

It's only natural to be scared about it happening again, PP is a terrifying and traumatic illness. Although you would be at high risk of it happening again, with the right support in place hopefully if PP did strike a second time it would be picked up and treated early and wouldn't be as bad second time.

It is a lot to consider and I truly agonised over the decision to try for another baby. My consultation with Prof Jones was so helpful, and it's not far for you if you're able to get referred.

Everyone has to come to a decision that's right for them. The effect it might have on my older child if I got ill again was a major worry for me too but we reached a decision in the end and you will too. I found the decision making one of the hardest parts - once the decision was made we could move forward and plan.

All the very best x

[SHaron154abbie in reply to Jenny_at_APP]

Did u have another child

[Jenny_at_APP Partner in reply to SHaron154abbie]

Yes I had a second son last year (see my first reply), fortunately no PP second time x

[SHaron154abbie in reply to Jenny_at_APP]

That's good for u x