My Blog

One of my favourite programmes in recent years has been ‘Call the Midwife‘. I have every episode saved! Often I need a tissue because a story has touched me.  I love spotting some items I recognise from my childhood days from my grandparents. Two weeks ago, when the main character lost her boyfriend following an accident,  the line of advice ‘just keep living until you feel alive again’ was fabulous and moved me. What wonderful words.

The episode I just watched reduced me to a sobbing wreck! It was because they portrayed a story of a new mother who developed puerperal psychosis, as I had done. I truly hope that there are thousands of people more aware of this illness now. I was enthralled in the way they showed her rapid deterioration; her obsessive and irrational behaviour, culminating with a near suicide and infanticide; the fear of stigma and disbelief of the father; her admission to a psychiatric ward and then treatment for electro-convulsive therapy followed by showing her recovery.I have campaigned for many years now to raise awareness of this awful illness especially because it can lead to death and I know the pain that bereavement brings.  I also know the guilt, shame and stigma that can surround a person who is diagnosed with a mental illness.

The scary thing about the episode tonight is that this illness is still relatively unheard of. I related to the wandering in nightclothes (although I did not take my son with me); I related to being hospitalised without him and the ache of hugging a pillow because the pain of separation is so bad; I related to the injection of anesthetic prior to ECT; I related to visiting times in the hospital; I related to recovery. I know by the stream of comments on social media that I wasn’t alone.

What the public may not be aware of is that due to services being deemed as ‘not needed’ in the majority of the country there are no specialist Mother and Baby units where such ladies can be treated without the pain of separation. Often ladies have to travel for long distances to be treated (if they can get a bed) and the impact that has on them and their families is huge. Where such units exist, many of their former patients say that the service has been a life saver. Let’s hope that going forward the commissioners and fund holders within the NHS recognise how vital these services are.

Some people may have been horrified by the use of ECT. Yes, it looks barbaric and yes they still do use it. I have to say that it worked for me.

I loved the programme tonight because it also showed hope. That was why I wrote my book ‘Eyes without Sparkle – a journey through postnatal illness’.  This documents my experience of the illness. A few weeks ago I got a call from a very worried lady whose daughter had been diagnosed with puerperal psychosis.  I was able to encourage her that it can be treated and you can get better.

The best resource for puerperal psychosis can be found at Action on Postpartum Psychosis .

I am currently working on my next book which will be a guide for those who are contemplating another pregnancy after challenges with a previous one. Have a look at earlier blogs for details.

Who do you know that you can share this information with?

Elaine