as you all know I was a NICU nurse for years, Pediatrics and OBGYN are my speciality....some information on Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Psychosis for your enlightenment. Info you may or may not find useful Chris.
But you know what they say it ain't over til the fat lady sings ( and I do not sing!) If getting McK some medical help could get back in touch with her love for you and CJ then salvage this situation...well, your call...............
Postpartum Depression
PD not only hurts the mother, but also affects her family. Some researchers have found that depression during pregnancy can raise the risk of delivering an underweight baby or a premature infant. Some women with depression have difficulty caring for themselves during pregnancy. They may have trouble eating and won’t gain enough weight during the pregnancy; have trouble sleeping; may miss prenatal visits; may not follow medical instructions; have a poor diet; or may use harmful substances, like tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs. Classic Symptoms are Dysphoric mood
Loss of interest in usually pleasurable activities,Difficulty concentrating or making decisions, Psychomotor agitation or, retardation, Fatigue, Changes in appetite or sleep, Recurrent thoughts of death/suicide,Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, especially failure at motherhood, Excessive anxiety over child's health
Postpartum depression can affect a mother’s ability to parent. She may lack energy, have trouble concentrating, be irritable, and not be able to meet her child’s needs for love and affection. As a result, she may feel guilty and lose confidence in herself as a mother, which can worsen the depression. Researchers believe that postpartum depression can affect the infant by causing delays in language development, problems with emotional bonding to others, behavioral problems, lower activity levels, sleep problems, and distress. It helps if the father or another caregiver can assist in meeting the needs of the baby and other children in the family while mom is depressed.
All children deserve the chance to have a healthy mom. All moms deserve the chance to enjoy their life and their children. If this is the problem she needs a doctor.
Postpartum Psychosis
Post-partum psychosis is very rare. It is not so much a variety of post-partum depression as it is an entity onto itself. It is characterized by homicidal and suicidal impulses, hallucinations, delusions, disorganized and bizarre thinking.
The dilemma is that these individuals usually refuse treatment. This is a medical emergency situation. If post-partum psychosis is suspected, families need to call 911 as emergency intervention is necessary. Medication most likely will be prescribed. The ultimate goal is to keep the baby and mother safe.
Research shows that approximately one woman in 1,000 births will experience post-partum psychosis.
As with treating any psychosis, first rule out any physiological cause such as thyroid storms, seizure disorders or drug-induced psychosis. Once ruled out, treatment is crucial. However before individual or group therapy, medication must be given to alleviate the psychotic symptomatolgy. In many cases, anti-psychotic medication is administered only for a short period of time. Once the psychosis abates, couple counseling, as well as individual counseling, can be of benefit.
Family support, and educating the family regarding what has occurred is also extremely important. It is important that the affected individual not be labeled a bad mother. Once the psychosis is treated, mothers generally go on to be good caretakers. It is important to note, however, that in the event of future pregnancies, affected individuals are at a 50% greater risk of having another psychotic episode.
Certain anti-psychotics have been more affective than others. Haldol, Risperidal, Clozaril and Zyprexa have been beneficial in post-partum psychosis.
Anti-psychotic medications do pass into the mother’s breast milk. Subsequently if the mother has been breastfeeding and continues to do so, the baby needs to be monitored for drowsiness or lethargic behavior, and prescribing the least amount of anti-psychotic medication in order for symptom reduction to occur is also crucial.
