15-Days-Old’s Life at Risk in Postpartum Mental Health Crisis; Psychiatrist Confirms Psychosis 

Last Friday, a case was reported in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad’s Kurla area, where a 15-day-old infant was rushed to the hospital by the family. The baby boy was put inside the refrigerator by his 23-year-old mother, after which she went to sleep. The infant’s cries were heard by the grandmother, who rescued him from the kitchen and took him to the hospital, where his condition became stable. Later, the mother was referred to the Psychiatry and De-addiction Centre, where the Psychiatrist diagnosed her with Postpartum Psychosis. Currently, the woman is receiving proper help through counselling. 

Mental Illness or Evil Forces 

The new mother was not well since the delivery happened; however, the family believed that it was related to “Evil Forces”, which meant that she was under supernatural influence or possession of spirits. In order to make her condition better, certain rituals were performed by the family. However, all the attempts were in vain. This is a common misinterpretation because of a lack of awareness about several mental health concerns. 

Postpartum Psychosis (PPP) 

It is a rare and serious mental illness that impacts individuals who have recently given birth, and it is also known as Postnatal Psychosis. It significantly hampers a person’s sense of reality, wherein common symptoms are Hallucination, Delusion, Paranoia, or other behaviour changes. The individuals are at a high risk of harming themselves or the infant. The symptoms can appear, ranging from several days to six weeks after the birth. Immediate treatment is recommended as this mental illness is an emergency. 

Postpartum Psychosis v/s Baby Blues 

These are two different conditions, though confusion is common because of a lack of awareness among people. After delivery, the women usually experience mild mood changes known as “baby blues”. This is normal, and it usually lasts for certain days after birth. However, Postpartum Psychosis is a severe mental health condition that can get worse if early intervention is not given. It has been reported by psychiatrists that Postpartum Psychosis and Depression in women after delivery can have various reasons, among which one of the major causes is neglect of the women after childbirth.