2 days ago in Friday my partner started becoming very confused. She went for a nap and when i woke her she could barely walk and could only say a few words, answering every question with her name. We took her to a&e but she continued to get worse, eventually being unable to move or speak, with symptoms being something like what i believe catatonia is. She will switch between "sleeping" for 10/15 minutes and then start moving her arms and legs for about the same time, as if trying to go somewhere, for about the same time period. Her eyes are closed and she shows no signs of being able to hear anything being said to her. All tests on anything being physically wrong with her have come back negative and the doctors have diagnosed postpartum psychosis, and are forming a plan of action tomorrow. Currently she is in the icu, sedated, as they are worried about her struggling with her drip and oxygen tube. They tried to wake her today after being sedated for 20 hours but she was in the same state she previously was. Has anyone experienced anything similar to this before?
I'm so, so scared of what the future holds. Our son was born on Tuesday night and within 72 hours his mother was in a hospital bed unable to say his name. I'm trying to stay optimistic but its so hard. Im surrounded by family, but i feel so alone, so sad, and so worried. If anyone has any guidance, please let me know.
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Newfather2024
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I'm so sorry this is happening to you all. This sounds SO familiar. About 48 hours after our son was born my wife became catatonic - a nurse rang me up saying she'd become "unresponsive" which was very panic-inducing. She would barely say anything at all. Sometimes the odd word here and there. All her muscles were tensed. It was absolutely terrifying. Eventually she was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. There's not much I can say at this point to you I think other than trust the docs who sound like they're on it. After a lot of medication and sleep and a spell in a mother and baby unit my wife recovered fully. It's incredibly scary when you're in it though.
Thank you so much for sending me that thread. It's amazing to see the posts over time and how they change from the dark early days to the amazing outcome. As much as I'd never want anyone else to have to go through this, it does give me comfort to know im not alone, and im so happy you and Kat got a happy ending.
Thanks again for reaching out and the link to the thread, it's made my morning a lot better.
Hi Newfather2024 , so sorry to read this. I’m glad you’ve got support and your wife does too.
I wasn’t catatonic but I did have PP last year and was sectioned then moved to a MBU. At one point in hospital, I said I couldn’t feel my baby, I had forgotten I had given birth. In the thick of it, it was hard for me and my family, but it does get better. Recovery is possible. Keep in touch with your local perinatal team if you haven’t already, they’ll offer support for you too I’m sure.
My advice would be trust the process.
This forum is a great resource to read through and ask questions etc.
Congratulations on your new arrival! Sending best wishes to you, your wife and family.
I'm so sorry you're currently going through this. Trust the doctors and the medications. Are you in the UK? I believe they have a great process with the mother baby unit which should help her recovery and process what's happened to some degree (I'm in the US and had PPP within the last year). I can't say it won't be a long road ahead but this forum has helped immensely. Hoping for all the best for your wife.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. The fact that you’re on this forum and already looking for resources is a really good sign, it means that you are in this with your partner. She is lucky to have someone in her corner like this. It will be a journey towards recovery but doing it together should, in my opinion, make it speedier. Of course I don’t know for sure, and everyone’s ppp experience is different, but if I had a partner who was open to sharing the load of the immense grief that swallows your mind body and soul after ppp (unfortunately being separated from your child is only the start of the grief - and guilt) I think I would have gotten to where I am faster. That being said, I am very grateful for the strength I’ve developed having to go it alone (I do have a partner who tried his best but came from a lot of trauma himself and could not be supportive in the way I needed to help heal. He was there for my son though, so that was enough. We are still together, but doing weekly somatic-sensory therapy).
All this is to say: keep reaching out for help and, if you can, do research. Don’t pretend to have all the answers, no one does. And don’t pretend that your partner couldn’t possibly have the answers either. She may have some good insight. Ppp is still so misunderstood. Just a few weeks ago (I’m 2 years post ppp) I came across a study on ppp that said that for some women, the combination of estrogen produced from breast feeding and estrogen consumed through animal products, mixed with something called casomorphines in animal products, can cause something to the effect of taking opioids, and ultimately psychosis. Who knows.
The hardest part for me in the recovery process was trust; I did not trust myself or anyone else. When you trust no one, not even yourself, it becomes nearly impossible to do anything, make any decisions. It is hell. I spent too much time on very heavy medication (I don’t think this happens as often in the UK, but I’m in the US) and could barely get out of bed. If you can find ways to help your partner trust herself again, because my guess is that anyone who goes through ppp questions their ability to think, do, and most importantly mother, I think that would go a long way.
It is not easy or linear. Have grace for your partner and yourself too- something I’m trying to work on having for my husband. You are a new parent on top of all of this, and it is going to feel impossible at times. But you are not alone. Not at all, and you can and will get through this. Trust your gut while staying open to possibilities that you hadn’t yet considered, and let your partner know that what she is experiencing, the pain, loneliness and utter confusion, will not last forever. Let yourself know that too.
I'm Ellie, I'm one of the national peer support coordinators at Action on Postpartum Psychosis. I had postpartum psychosis in 2011 after the birth of my son. I'm so sorry your partner is so poorly with PP, and that her symptoms are so severe and worrying. I know how traumatic it is, for those of us who go through it of course, but equally for our family members having to watch us go through it. I know it can be hard to believe that she may get better when she seems so acutely unwell, but as you can see there are so many of us here who have been where your partner is now, and have recovered.
I experienced a catatonic episode of psychosis too, not moving, not eating and not responding to anyone when they spoke to me, though I had a lot of thoughts and delusions going through my mind. Very similar to how you describe your partner. But with anti psychotic medication I responded very quickly, and have recovered well. Your partner will too, though I know it can be hard to believe this at the moment.
Have they started your partner on anti psychotic medication yet do you know? Within time, when she is out of this very acute stage, I hope that she will be able to go to a mother and baby unit with your baby. They will be able to provide specialist support and help her to recover.
Do know that we have a lot of support for you as the partner too. I don't know if you've found information on our website?
We can also connect you with other Dads and co-parents whose partner's have experienced postpartum psychosis too. Simon is our Partners Coordinator, you can email on simon@app-network.org
Simon's wife also had postpartum psychosis.
We have a monthly meet up on Zoom for Dads and co-parents affected by PP. The next one is actually this Wednesday, 18th September, 7.30-9pm. If you email Simon, and/ or myself (ellie@app-network.org) we can send you the Zoom link for this. This is a safe place for Dads and co-parents just to support each other and share experiences. There will be other Dads on the call, further along in the postpartum psychosis journey than you are, who I'm sure will be able to give you hope.
I'm so glad you have found us and reached out to us here. Do know you can write anytime you want, with any questions you have.
The most important thing I wanted to say is that your partner really will come through this and get better, and be herself again.
I'm so sorry to hear what your family are going through at the moment.
I had postpartum psychosis in Feb 2022, and had a number of very physical symptoms. I was rushed into hospital with a suspected stroke 4 days after giving birth after waking up with slurred speech after a nap. All the stroke tests came back negative. A week later I had weakness in both arms and ended up having a seizure whilst waiting in A&E. I was eventually admitted to a Mother and Baby Unit, where I continued to experience physical symptoms such as functional drop attacks, jerks and twitches, tremors and trouble speaking. All of these symptoms were completely new to me. There is very little research available on physical symptoms of postpartum psychosis.
After lots of research, I believe I experienced an acute episode of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) which was triggered by the postpartum psychosis, so I would be tempted to ask the doctors about this.
After spending around a month in the Mother and Baby Unit and being treated for postpartum psychosis with antipsychotics, my physical symptoms completely resolved.
I know it must feel very scary right now, but I made a full and relatively swift recovery and this will happen for your wife too. Please reach out on here anytime, we are all here for you.
Hi Newfather2024 , I just wanted to send love and good thoughts to you and your wife. I am four months out of postpartum psychosis. When I was in it it felt unbelievable that I would get better but my husband had been reassured by psychiatrists that I would and kept reassuring me of the fact. It is such a scary and awful thing to go though but there is lots of suport on this site and through peer support. I hope the psychiatrists have come up with a plan for your wife and she can head to a mother and baby unit soon. Keeping you both in my thoughts.
Newfather2024 how’s you’re wife doing? I had Catatonia and PP I was bed ridden for two days unable to move, speak etc was just sleeping before going to hospital. I was still not right in hospital but with medication I came round and started to function again. After two weeks I was reunited with my daughter and was able to start caring for her. Was still very tired and slept a lot, I think party due to the PP but also the medication. Sending best wishes to you and your family.
Thank you so much for all your responses. Sadly, in a couple of ways, i jumped the gun a little in thinking the final diagnosis was PPP. Although the doctors were honing in on PPP last weekend, as time progressed, they moved away from it and found Chloe had an increasingly high ammonia level. They weren't able to reduce this quickly enough, and further scans have revealed she is unlikely to have any further brain activity, so I'm devastated to say it looks like she will not recover.
For a short period of time, this site gave me a lot of hope and comfort. Please do keep helping others as I'm sure it will continue to be invaluable to so many people.
I’m so so sorry to read your news and the diagnosis of your lovely Chloe. I hope you have lots of friends and family locally who can be there to support you and each other through this very hard time. As Maria has said already it’s devastating news, so lean on all those around you.
I am so sorry to hear this. I hope you have lots of support around you, but please know that even though it was not PP, you are welcome here for support any time.
There is an organisation called Home Start who may be able to provide you some practical support with baby in the challenging times ahead.
I am so sorry to hear such devastating news. I am thinking of you. So important to be with your family at this time, and your close friends. They are there for you. Do take care of you and take all the help that is offered.
I’m so sorry to hear this devastating news about your partner Chloe. Sending you strength at this difficult time. Take care of yourself and your wee boy.
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