Action on Postpartum Psychosis is the national charity for women and families affected by postpartum psychosis (PP). PP is a severe mental illness that begins suddenly following childbirth.  Symptoms include hallucinations and delusions, often with mania, depression or confusion. More than 1400 women experience PP each year in the UK (1 to 2 in every 1,000 mothers). An episode of PP can be very frightening for women and their families. Most women go on to make a full recovery, however the journey can be long and difficult.

I  am going to take on the APP Miles for Mums and Babies Fundraising Challenge this year.

I suffered from PP back in 1990 immediately after childbirth.

I was admitted urgently to a general psychiatric hospital (asylum) without my baby.

There were no nurses specialising in PP and the specific needs of a mother who has recently given birth to her first child and was now separated from her baby and severely mentally ill.

To be quite honest the whole experience was like a living nightmare and there was no one to talk to about what I was going through.

The psychosis was controlled quite quickly by drugs but fairly typically this was followed by a very deep depression which required 3 months of inpatient treatment in a general psychiatric hospital without my baby.

Thankfully I did eventually recover, but the scars will be with me forever.

Sadly some mums and babies are not so lucky.

Before the advent of anti-psychotic drugs to treat PP, some mum’s remained in asylums for life and there was no happy ending (read their stories on the APP website)

APP is a small charity set up 30 years ago by mums who had suffered from PP which aims to make people aware of this severe postnatal mental condition and provide information, and support for mums, babies and families affected by it.

There are now Mother and Baby Units scattered across the UK which can admit mothers suffering from PP WITH their babies and give them the essential specialist help they need.

England has 19 units, Scotland has two and Wales has one.

The aim of APP is to raise awareness of PP and ensure all women affected by postpartum psychosis in the UK have access to a Mother and Baby Unit .

We urgently need more Mother and Baby Units in the UK as there are many parts of the country with NONE - North Wales and Northern Ireland - and even where there is an MBU nearby, there may not be a bed available. 

Please sponsor me if you can , but more importantly please go to the APP website and read some of the stories and be aware of this condition and the symptoms to lookout for especially if you are caring for a new mum.

In these days of no ‘family’ GP’s, difficulty in even getting an appointment, and stretched NHS maternity services, this is SO important.

I am still constantly amazed that in 2024, most people who I ask have never heard of PP and especially expectant and new mums who have recently attended ante natal classes.

We need more research into the possible causes and prevention of PP

Knowledge is everything. 

I wish APP had been around to help me and my family 34 years ago, and that I had been admitted to a Mother and Baby unit with my baby for the specialist treatment I needed.

I have created a Just Giving page but if like me you are not too keen on donating via this route, message me and donate a different way or directly to APP.

Please help 🧑‍🍼🤗

Kate

Action on Postpartum Psychosis

www.app-network.org

My daughter and I at her wedding in 2022

APP www.app-network.org