Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing - The Carter Center

The onset is rapid and usually occurs with in the first few days
after delivery. The symptoms are those of depressive
psychosis, manic illness or in some cases schizophrenia. This
illness most often affects primipara.
Sign and symptoms
The affected woman shows bizarre behavior, loses touch with
reality and may suffer from hallucinations. The onset of these
symptoms may be heralded by a time of acute restlessness
and inability to sleep. Frequently the mother may deny that
her baby belongs to her and in rare cases she may harm the
baby.
Treatment
The illness must be treated promptly by admission to a
psychiatry unit under the care of a consultant. In most cases
the baby will be able to accompany his mother into hospital
and this should be encouraged if at all possible prompt
psychiatric case is vital and skilled psychiatric nursing care is
required including medical treatments. With prompt treatment
the prognosis is good but, unfortunately, it is likely that further
episodes of the illness will occur through out the woman’s life
around there is a high risk of recurrence in subsequent
pregnancies.
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