Postpartum psychosis is having a moment in the media, and most of what gets said about it is wrong on the two points that matter most: how rare it actually is, and what it has to do with how someone feels about becoming a mother. Neither is what you'd think.

In this episode, Rebecca gives a clearer, more accurate picture of postpartum psychosis: why "rare" is the wrong word for something that affects one to two in every thousand births, why it's a physiological complication of pregnancy rather than a reflection of someone's mental state or fitness as a mother, and what it actually sounds and looks like in the room. She walks through the early indicators that often get missed, the inability or lack of need for sleep, shifting mood, that unsettling sense from family that "something's not quite right", alongside the core symptoms of delusions and hallucinations, and what a client or their family member might actually say to you. She also covers what to do the moment you suspect psychosis is on board: this is a psychiatric emergency, not a follow-up appointment.

Rebecca references the postpartum psychosis discussion tool from Postpartum Support International as a starting point for the questions to ask a client or family member you're concerned about. Use it as your next check when something doesn't feel right. If this episode gave you something useful, subscribe so you don't miss the next piece of the puzzle, and share it with someone else who's part of a client's village.

Links & resources mentioned
Postpartum Psychosis Discussion Tool (Postpartum Support International): https://postpartum.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PPP-Discussion-Tool_PSI_4.2025.pdf

PMHI website: https://perinatalmentalhealthinstitute.com/

Perinatal OCD Versus Postpartum Psychosis: Recognition, Risk, and Response (Expert Training with Gaby Beaujeu, PMH-C Certified Psychotherapist): https://perinatalmentalhealthinstitute.com/product-details/product/w-ocd-beaujeu

Disclaimer: Perinatal in Practice is intended for professional education purposes only. It does not constitute clinical advice or supervision, and does not replace your own professional judgment or your organisation's protocols.

🎵 Theme music: Hopeful Horizons by Justin Lee


And when you’re ready to transform your Perinatal Practice with evidence-based Training & Community:
🟢 Take the FREE FREE PMADS TRAINING - Symptoms and Screening for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders: https://learn.perinatalmentalhealthinstitute.com/free-pmads-training
🟢 Join the PMHI Community Hub: https://perinatalmentalhealthinstitute.com/communityhub