Signs and Sympoms
Although it's rare, this condition is extremely serious, disabling, and often requires hospitalization. Women with postpartum psychosis have delusions and hallucinations that often, but not always, focus on hurting themselves or their babies. They need immediate medical care.
Symptoms may include:
� Refusal to eat
� inability to stop activity, frantic excessive energy
� extreme confusion, loss of memory, incoherence
� bizarre hallucinations � often faith based
� suspiciousness, irrational statements
� bizarre behavior
� suicidal
� feeling they may hurt baby
This rare disorder occurs severely and quickly, usually within the first three months: 80% of all cases show up within 3-14 days after a symptom-free period.
Seek the advice of a qualified physician for evaluation if you or a loved one is suffering with sleep disturbances, eating problems, intense depressed feelings, begin to withdraw or isolate socially, or interaction with the new baby is suffering.
There are numerous medications and treatments available for these disorders even for breast-feeding mothers. If your physician downplays or ignores your plea for help, find one who will listen.