Pro-Choice

Freddie

(9,769 posts)

13. So can a wanted pregnancy

Sun Jan 8, 2017, 04:39 PM

Jan 2017

The hormonal changes of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum can wreak havoc on her mental health, especially if she already had issues.
Friend's DIL was a successful marketing executive, happily married, had a very much wanted son. She experienced severe postpartum depression (later diagnosed as postpartum psychosis) and my friend had to put her own life on hold to care for her grandson while her DIL was hospitalized. She never really went back to "normal." She was diagnosed with bipolar that had been latent and was "triggered" by the pregnancy. Thankfully (unlike Andrea Yates) the couple took their doctors advise seriously and their son is an only child. He's in college now and his mother still struggles.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

18 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I have been counseling a male friend on understanding his first wife's abortion. [View all] CTyankee Jan 2017 OP

Men think because childbirth is natural it is risk free and easy Warpy Jan 2017 #1

He is not insensitive. He feels terribly for her situation. CTyankee Jan 2017 #4

I think you've laid it out really well. CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2017 #2

Right, good point, elleng Jan 2017 #3

I want him to understand that even if he would have raised the child it was not his decision to make CTyankee Jan 2017 #7

Very sad, but you are right to help him, elleng Jan 2017 #8

He has the right to mourn the child. Iris Feb 2017 #18

You might suggest he read one of the memoirs about bipolar, s-cubed Jan 2017 #5

You are so right. He has to come to terms with her illness. CTyankee Jan 2017 #9

So can a wanted pregnancy Freddie Jan 2017 #13

I have a good friend who had postpartum psychosis. It was horrible. She got locked up in Yale new CTyankee Jan 2017 #14

I think he should be thankful to have the daughters. Buckeye_Democrat Jan 2017 #6

I think he had to fight to get custody. CTyankee Jan 2017 #10

I knew a guy who fought for custody of his son after his ex-wife... Buckeye_Democrat Jan 2017 #11

terrible situation. Nobody is truly happy... CTyankee Jan 2017 #12

Given that he was afraid she would try to hurt the daughters, PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2017 #15

I tried. I hoped I got thru. I know he trusts my opinion... CTyankee Jan 2017 #16

I hope so. PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2017 #17