Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP), London (2026)

03/04/2026

‘I’m running the London Marathon to show that you can fully recover from postpartum psychosis.’ Read on for Kayleigh's story.

'I had never heard of postpartum psychosis before I experienced it and do not recall it being mentioned on any of the prenatal courses that I had studiously attended! It came as a total shock as I had always thought of myself as having very good mental health. I was very excited to become a mum, however, this incredibly exciting time was clouded by a terrifying experience and I couldn’t see any way through it – I certainly didn’t think I would ever recover.

I’m now sharing my story and training to run the London Marathon to increase awareness of this condition and give hope to those currently experiencing it.

I want others to know that you can make a full recovery and go back to leading a normal and very happy life.

We were absolutely delighted to find out we were pregnant, it was a little earlier in our relationship than we had planned but all the same, we couldn’t wait to be parents. I had a relatively smooth pregnancy and had done ‘all the reading’ and attended lots of prenatal classes, NCT group, a breastfeeding course, baby first aid, etc. I thought I was well prepared for postpartum.

It all started with a traumatic birth, two days of labour with a dramatic rush into theatre for a c section which was narrowly avoided. Instead, my son was delivered by forceps and I had to have an episiotomy (a surgical incision to expedite delivery).

The long labour and pain from the episiotomy meant that I didn’t sleep well for almost a whole week. Thinking that this was ‘normal’ for new parents, we laughed off these initial warning signs. Then, I started to hallucinate, forgetting who I was, or who our son was.

I, and those closest to me, noticed that I was experiencing extreme highs and lows - feeling incredibly happy one moment and in total despair the next. I was very fortunate to have community midwives throughout my pregnancy who knew me well and also noticed that this wasn’t normal for me.

I was very nervous about asking for help - I had tried to hide how I was feeling and was constantly dismissing it as ‘normal baby blues’. It was a very confusing time for me and I remember not feeling like I could trust anyone. I had racing thoughts and felt like I couldn’t switch off, so I gave up trying and offered to do all of the nights with our son as I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway.

I was admitted to hospital on day three after giving birth as my husband was concerned about my very low mood. However, my more alarming symptoms were missed and they discharged me after helping me to breastfeed.

When I got back home I was very scared and knew that I needed help. On a routine visit on day seven, my community midwife advised me to contact 111 and ask for the mental health crisis team which I did. The mental health team responded very quickly and visited our house within a few hours and, at this point, my mind was constantly racing and I was very worried that I would never feel normal again. I remember finding the visits from the mental health team, perinatal team and social workers very difficult as I was struggling to retain information or sequence days, I felt like I was constantly confused and that there were too many strangers in my home. I wished that they would go away and leave us alone and I was hoping that I could say what they wanted to hear so they would leave and not come back. However, I was talking too quickly and therefore concerning the professionals even more and at one point they mentioned the possibility of sectioning me which led me into a complete panic.

However, I ended up being treated at home with daily appointments from the mental health crisis team and perinatal team. I had never heard of a mother and baby unit and now with hindsight, I believe that this would have been a brilliant option for me.

Although very reluctant to take any medication (I am the kind of person who won’t take paracetamol unless it is absolutely the last resort), I started to take Olanzapine about ten days postpartum. I didn’t get on well with it initially as the dosage was too high for me and I was very dizzy - not a great combination when caring for a new baby! But it definitely helped and allowed me to get the sleep and the break from my racing mind that I desperately needed.

The perinatal team in Suffolk were fantastic. I had regular meetings with my mental health nurse, Emma, and was lucky enough to be assigned a children’s nurse, Clare, who worked hard to ensure that I bonded with my son.

The perinatal team also organised walks and craft activities with other mothers in similar circumstances, which I found very helpful as it made me feel like I wasn’t the only new mum going through this.

Thankfully, once I started to sleep, it didn’t take too long to start feeling more like myself and I was able to start processing what had happened. I held onto the guilt for a very long time, feeling like I had spoilt the first few weeks of fatherhood for my husband and had ruined the excitement of a new baby for our whole family as they were all worrying about me. I think I am still coming to terms with what happened and making peace with it. It was a huge step forward when I felt comfortable to start speaking about what happened and that is what has led me to sharing my story more widely.

I do feel very fortunate in my experience, however, that I did maintain a bond with my son. Although at times I didn’t know who he was, which is heartbreaking, I continued to care for him all the same.

My message to others would be to trust the process - it is incredibly hard when you’re in the midst of postpartum psychosis but know that you can trust your closest family and friends to lead you back to yourself again with the support of the medical professionals. If you are not getting the support you need and are still not feeling right please continue to ask for help. Calling 111 worked for me and it's great that they now have a mental health option. Please keep reaching out if you need help, and know fantastic charities like APP are also here for you, to help signpost you and to support you as you recover.

I am now fundraising for APP by running the London Marathon in April in the hope of raising awareness for this incredible charity, and to share my story to bring hope to those mothers and families currently going through something similar.

I am now back to myself again, living a full and happy family life, alongside working full time as a high school teacher. I remember being frightened that I would never be able to do any of this again when I was unwell but now I am living proof that you can recover.'

31/03/2026

Could you take on the Miles for Mums and Babies Challenge this May for Maternal Mental Health Awareness? Sign up today, pledge to raise at least £50 and we'll send you a free APP t-shirt or vest, balloons and other awareness and fundraising materials, plus a medal when you complete your challenge! 👕 🎈🥇

Each mile you complete as part of the challenge reflects the journey mums, babies, partners and families travel to be together, whilst mums receive care in Mother and Baby Units.

Could you walk, run, swim, cycle or toddle 10, 50, 100 or 1000 miles or more? Or, choose your own distance, perhaps reflecting a number or distance that is special to you.

You could complete the distance on your own or as part of a team – maybe get all the family involved, invite your work colleagues to join you or convince a group of friends. You could even complete your chosen distance using a variety of methods - run, swim, row, cycle, walk…. It’s up to you.

➡ Find out more and sign up today: https://bit.ly/APPM4M

31/03/2026

Save the dates for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week in May 📆

We want as many people as possible to get involved, start conversations about postpartum psychosis (PP), and make sure anyone affected knows where to turn for help and support.

🗓 Key dates:
• Friday 1st May, Pregnancy & Postpartum Psychosis PPP Awareness Day
• Monday 4th to Sunday 10th May, Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
• Wednesday 6th May, World Maternal Mental Health Day

💜 How you can get involved:
• Follow Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) for updates and ways to take part
• Like, comment on and share our posts to help spread awareness
• Join our free APP Network community for email updates: https://ow.ly/3P3t50YBaPq
• Sign up for our Miles for Mums and Babies Challenge this May: https://ow.ly/EgXV50YBaPs

💬 We’re here for you with information and support: https://ow.ly/FTjq50YBaPr

Perinatal Mental Health Partnership Pregnancy & Postpartum Psychosis, PPP, Awareness Day World Maternal Mental Health Day Maternal Mental Health Alliance

30/03/2026

‘I was diagnosed with bipolar after my miscarriage.’ Read on for Ruth's story.

'Many mothers fully recover from postpartum psychosis, but some face a long road to recovery. I am one of those mothers, and my journey has been long and hard. But today, my life as a mother is wonderful and fulfilling.

My story starts in the autumn of 2015 when I miscarried in the ninth week of pregnancy. The grief that followed my loss was engulfing. It consumed me. I found myself crying for over an hour at my work desk, at a Chinese takeaway and relentlessly at home. I was crying pretty much all the time.

Naturally, the loss of my baby left me shattered, but the depths of my despair went well beyond the pain of loss. I knew something was seriously wrong.

After several weeks of severe hopelessness I visited my GP. She stressed that the depression I was feeling was emotional rather than hormonal, and sent me away with a month’s supply of antidepressants. The tablets sadly had little effect, and my depression took a turn for the worse.

In December 2015, approximately 8 weeks after I miscarried, I became suicidal and floridly psychotic. Convinced I had spread SARS across the UK, I believed I was on death row and facing ex*****on by the electric chair.

Delusions of torture soon followed, along with hallucinations of flies flying around me. People’s faces would appear disfigured. Confused and clinically depressed, I was admitted to hospital for assessment, and would go on to spend three weeks as an informal patient on my local psychiatric ward.

This devastating experience had been my first episode of postpartum psychosis.

Despite making a full and speedy recovery, I went on to have two further psychotic episodes before the birth of my son in 2019.

One experience was so violent I had to be sectioned by the police. I was initially diagnosed with Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder, and was advised by consultants that if I managed stress and sleep better I could prevent further episodes.

Managing stress and sleep was becoming easier, and in 2018 I found myself unexpectedly pregnant with my son. I was ecstatic. At 35, and with two failed pregnancies behind me my hopes of becoming a mother had been rapidly fading.

My son was my miracle baby. My rainbow baby. But my pregnancy was tough. Once again, I began bleeding heavily early on. Convinced I was going to lose another pregnancy I developed severe OCD. I would endlessly wash my hands, and avoided a wide range of foods – believing I would catch listeria. My anxiety peaked quickly and I became psychotic. Feeling very paranoid, delusions followed. I briefly believed sewage was leaking from the sink in my bathroom.

Concerned for my wellbeing, my Community Mental Health team linked me in with the newly established Perinatal team. I met with the Perinatal Consultant Psychiatrist early in February 2019 (2 months before my son was due). I was 31 weeks pregnant.

It was a devastating meeting. The consultant diagnosed me with Bipolar Type 1 disorder which she believed was triggered by the miscarriage in 2015. She went on to inform me that, as I had had a previous episode of postpartum psychosis, my chance of becoming acutely unwell after giving birth was 50%. I was urged to start antipsychotic medication immediately.

Because of my anxiety and previous failed pregnancies, I flatly refused, and hesitantly agreed to start medication immediately after my son was born. I went into labour a week later, and gave birth at 35 weeks. My son was tiny. Weighing only 5lb10oz…but he was healthy. And I had avoided a severe psychotic episode thanks to the amazing Perinatal and Maternity teams who had managed my labour like a military operation.

The perinatal team were concerned, however, that I was showing early signs of postpartum psychosis. I therefore spent a week on the labour ward and was admitted to the nearest Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in the neighbouring county. I stayed at the MBU for three weeks.

Initially I was elated. I felt I had won the battle against postpartum psychosis, and I had a beautiful, healthy son. But later I struggled in the MBU, finding it a daunting experience. I was a new mother away from family and friends… and my hometown. It was not how I expected to spend the first weeks as a mother. But I found solace in the unit. I realised I was not alone, that other mothers had suffered like me, and that we had a huge support network to rely on.

As hard as it is to admit, I did struggle to bond with my son after birth. My traumatic pregnancy, combined with my shock diagnosis, had flawed me. I wondered how I would cope – if I could cope.

My elation at beating a full blown second postpartum episode was dashed last May. Psychosis had finally caught up with me. The anxiety of being a new mother, combined with fears relating to the Covid-19 outbreak tipped me over the edge. Fortunately, this time I was on medication. This meant the episode was less aggressive and slower to progress. It also meant I had a lot more insight – I knew I was unwell. I did not need to stay in hospital and was able to see my son (at my mum’s house) regularly. This was empowering for me as I realised I could now manage bipolar psychosis.

Happily, I am now in remission. The longest period of remission since 2015. I am aware however that medication does not eliminate the risk of relapse, and I accept I am on medication long-term.

Life has changed vastly for me since my miscarriage. I carefully manage my stress levels, and sleeping patterns. I no longer drink alcohol. My once fast-paced, chaotic life has almost ground to a halt. But in losing almost everything, I have found what is most important…health and motherhood.

For years I doubted my ability to move past my episode of postpartum psychosis. It had, at the time turned my life upside down. But I am often reminded of the Perinatal Consultant’s comforting words, “The illness”, she said, “will always be part of you, but doesn’t need to define you”. These words gave me hope, and Action on Postpartum Psychosis have connected me with mothers who have shown me that this is true.

I now see that it is possible to move on from postpartum psychosis. In fact, not only is it possible to move on from, but I now know that I can live a wonderfully fulfilling life. A life full of meaning and purpose. A life as a mother.'

30/03/2026

'If you’re a woman with bipolar disorder and you’re contemplating having a child, there’s quite a lot to consider.'

Read on for an extract from 'Bipolar and pregnancy: decisions, decisions, decisions…' by Clare.

'We now know from research (often conducted with the help of Bipolar UK members) that about 50% of women with bipolar are likely to have some sort of episode during pregnancy or postnatally. But 20-25% of women with bipolar will suffer a postpartum psychosis (PP), which is a more severe episode which requires emergency treatment and usually a stay in hospital.

Though these statistics may seem alarming, it’s important to recognise that a) there’s a 75% chance you won’t have a PP and b) if you’re unlucky and do, PP usually responds very well to treatment and you can get back to being a great mum to your baby very soon.

When I suffered a PP after the birth of my daughter, it was an advantage that I already had a diagnosis of bipolar because both I and my husband knew within days of the birth that I needed psychiatric help – whereas it often goes unrecognised for a long time in women without a diagnosis, thus giving the condition more time to get worse.

I had to go to hospital for five weeks and stop breastfeeding so I could restart my lithium, but I never lost the bond with my daughter and, once home, quickly re-established a routine of caring for her.'

Continue reading here: https://ow.ly/TaJa50YAyMl

30/03/2026

Today is World Bipolar Day 2026.

Did you know? Women with bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of becoming unwell after giving birth. Postpartum psychosis occurs after approximately 25% of births to women with bipolar disorder.

We’re here with information, support and FREE insider guides shaped by lived experience, including a guide to bipolar disorder, pregnancy and childbirth.

APP support:
• Read our guides here: https://ow.ly/A21I50YAyku
• Get 1-to-1 peer support and join our café groups: https://ow.ly/eavk50YAyks

Read personal experiences:
• Clare: https://ow.ly/BjCv50YAykw
• Ruth: https://ow.ly/ULR650YAykt

24/03/2026

Next Monday is World Bipolar Day 2026.

Did you know? Women with bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of becoming unwell after giving birth. Postpartum psychosis occurs after approximately 25% of births to women with bipolar disorder.

We’re here to support you:
• Get guidance on planning pregnancy: https://ow.ly/Lr9i50Yyc2g
• Join one of our friendly online peer support café groups. We offer peer support for mental health challenges after postpartum psychosis, including for those with ongoing diagnoses such as bipolar disorder.

On , Bipolar UK is hosting a series of three free live webinars. Book your free place here: https://ow.ly/eFWY50Yyc2h

24/03/2026

Our research with women from Black backgrounds who have experienced postpartum psychosis shows more needs to be done to reach communities with information, to tackle stigma and self-stigma. Women describe barriers to accessing services. Health professionals and charities need to reach out to different communities in response to their unique challenges.

Our Peer Support Facilitators offer talks and presentations to community groups and health professionals and are keen to encourage more women from Black communities to access information about postpartum psychosis.

We are also looking to contact more health professionals who work in maternity services or perinatal mental health from Black communities to get involved in awareness-raising campaigns.

A psychiatrist or nurse who understands a community’s culture or faith will have a powerful impact in delivering our messages about what postpartum psychosis is and how women and their families can get help.

We have volunteers trained in peer support and they are keen to support more women, parents and families using their own personal experiences.

✉️ Anyone representing community or faith groups who would like to arrange for a talk from APP, or any maternity/perinatal mental health professionals who would like to get involved, email app@app-network.org.

💜 To find out more about peer support, please see here: https://ow.ly/9n7550QFVgC

24/03/2026

It’s normal to feel a whole range of emotions when you begin to recover from postpartum psychosis, including:
• Shock
• Embarrassment
• Why me?
• Anger
• Exhaustion
• Guilt
• Worry (bonding, your relationship, your future health)

In the early days after being diagnosed and/or receiving treatment in hospital, you may feel a sense of confusion about the events of your baby’s birth and your illness. Many mums find it hard to remember the exact sequence of events from becoming unwell to getting help.

You may also feel let down or unhappy about the way treatment was started, especially if you had to go to hospital under a section of the Mental Health Act. You may want to understand more about postpartum psychosis (PP), or you may not feel ready to deal with detailed information yet.

Some of these ideas can help:
• Ask your mental health team for a summary of events and your treatment.
• Talk to your partner or family about what happened – but some people find this very hard and need time to recover first.
• Write your story in a private diary.
• Use photos or memories to put together a timeline. This can help you look back on your baby’s first days, even though they weren’t how you expected them to be.
• Read other women’s stories – ask a friend to look on the APP website (www.app-network.org) and find encouraging stories for you. Be wary of internet searches before you feel ready, as some web content can be upsetting.
• Come to our peer support forum at www.app-network.org/pptalk or request one-to-one peer support from a volunteer who has recovered from PP.

Mums who have recovered from postpartum psychosis have shared their tips for the first year of recovery and beyond in the APP Insider Guide to Recovery.

Read it here: www.app-network.org/what-is-pp/app-guides, or get in touch and we can post you a free printed copy.

Artwork from an APP workshop 🌤️

23/03/2026

New mum seems strange? Seek help. It could be postpartum psychosis, a treatable medical emergency.

Help make an urgent appointment with their doctor, midwife, health visitor or call 111. If you think there is imminent danger, call 999.

With help they will recover.

23/03/2026

Could you display a poster about the signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis where you work or in your community?

Perhaps you work at a clinic parents-to-be visit? Or, could take a poster to one near you?

Contact us for free printed A4 posters.
Email: app@app-network.org

22/03/2026

'You think 'I'll never get back to being a normal mum', but you will' - Sofii shares her experience: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yve15lvgko

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

03/04/2026

31/03/2026

31/03/2026

30/03/2026

30/03/2026

30/03/2026

24/03/2026

24/03/2026

24/03/2026

23/03/2026

23/03/2026

22/03/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category