Dangers of Postpartum Psychosis

» biogardener - Identifying

I can identify with Andrea Yates and other women like her, because I have been through it. As I see it, the main cause of post-partum depression, as well as other forms of depression, is physical exhaustion. Pregnancy places heavy demands on the body, causing a state of weakness which is exascerbated by sudden hormonal changes. And just when the woman is in need of a holiday with lots of sleep to recover, she has to look after a new baby who won't let her sleep more than a few hours at a time. When she falls into bed exhausted in the evening, her husband wants his sexual needs met, and when she finally gets a bit of sleep in the morning, her other children need breakfast. And some women are expected to go back to work in a few weeks on top of it all.

In other words, at the time when our physical resources are at an all-time low, we are expected to put in our peak performance. No one can live up to that, and it takes an assertive woman to put her foot down and demand help and consideration. Andrea Yates was not assertive. She did not fight back. She considered herself responsible while her husband got her pregnant time and again and while her health care providers tried to treat a mental disorder where physical help was needed.

I only went through this once, and I was assertive enough to demand help. I also had a mother who understood, because she had been through it 6 times, and she stood by my side taking the load off me. Otherwise I might have ended up a child killer, too.

I grew up in a country where the state offered free help to mothers of newborn babies. In North America, all that the state offers is advice and tranquilizers. Sorry, that's of little use when I am falling over with exhaustion. An extra pair of hands is what is needed, and maybe the husbands should be given the advice and the tranquilizer.

-- posted by biogardener

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