Mom Breaks: Science and Stories of Postpartum Psychosis

Meg
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

What happens when motherhood collides with a mental health crisis that even doctors struggle to recognize? Postpartum psychosis is a mental health condition that is said to affect about 1–2 in every 1,000 births. This is less common than other mental health conditions - though with 130–140 million births worldwide each year, we’re talking about 130,000–364,000 new cases annually. Across years, as many as 4 million survivors of postpartum psychosis may be living today - yet too often, our stories go unheard. We're creating space to hear those stories. In this podcast, we explore postpartum psychosis in all its complexity - our researched understanding as well as human experiences. We'll weave perspectives into an honest, compassionate conversation - making space for both the heaviness and the hope. We bring together: Survivors who’ve lived through the stormResearchers uncovering what we know (and what we still don’t)Clinicians on the frontlines of carePartners and loved ones who witnessed the unthinkable Here, we normalize Mom Breaks - both the psychotic kind no one asks for, and the everyday kind everyone needs. A delusion I had during my psychosis was that I could reach an altered state where I wouldn’t have to care for myself at all, and could endlessly serve others. The truth - the cure, in many ways - is the opposite. We all need breaks. The small, regular pauses we build into our days and family routines are just as relevant as the bigger, harder interruptions that force us to stop. Mom Breaks remind us that caring for ourselves is not selfish—it’s what allows us to thrive and care for the people we love. We’re here to shine light, offer understanding, and remind each other that nobody has to walk this path alone. If you’ve lived it, love someone who has, or simply believe these stories need to be heard - welcome.

  1. My Reflections: Looking Back, Looking In, and Looking Forward

    1H AGO

    My Reflections: Looking Back, Looking In, and Looking Forward

    In this episode I pause to reflect on what has emerged across this project — from interviews with clinicians and survivors, to my own ongoing recovery from postpartum psychosis. Rather than introducing new research or new stories, this episode weaves together three perspectives: a look back at themes across conversationsa look inward at how this work has shaped my understanding of my own experienceand a look forward at partner perspectives and systems of careWe explore psychosis and meaning-making, why recovery often unfolds long after crisis care ends, and how uncertainty — even among experts — can be both grounding and humane. You'll hear reactions to my experience with psychosis from perinatal psychiatrist Dr. Catherine Birndorf, as well as survivor perspectives on spirituality from Dr. Rowena Winkler and Meghan Cliffel. Citations: Hall, W., & Degenhardt, L. (2008, June 7). Cannabis use and the risk of developing a psychotic disorder. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). Kovess-Masfety , V. (2018, February 16). Psychotic experiences and religiosity: Data from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica. Mota-Rojas, D., Orihuela, A., Strappini, A., Villanueva-García, D., Napolitano, F., Mora-Medina, P., Barrios-García, H. B., Herrera, Y., Lavalle, E., & Martínez-Burnes, J. (2020, December 15). Consumption of maternal placenta in humans and nonhuman mammals: Beneficial and adverse effects. MDPI. Royal College of Psychiatrists. (2018). Postpartum psychosis for carers. Valdimarsdóttir, U., Hultman, C. M., Harlow, B., Cnattingius, S., & Sparén, P. (2009, February 10). Psychotic illness in first-time mothers with no previous psychiatric hospitalizations: A population-based study. PLOS Medicine. Westhead, M., & Georgiades, A. (2025, July 3). The role of spirituality and religiosity in the maintenance and recovery of psychosis: A systematic review. Early intervention in psychiatry.

    40 min
  2. Holding Space for Perinatal Distress: Dr. Brooke Laufer on Recovery and Meaning after Postpartum Psychosis

    12/29/2025

    Holding Space for Perinatal Distress: Dr. Brooke Laufer on Recovery and Meaning after Postpartum Psychosis

    In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Brooke Laufer, a clinical psychologist specializing in perinatal and reproductive mental health, including postpartum psychosis, perinatal trauma, infant loss, and maternal filicide. She provides therapy, consultation, and expert guidance to clinicians, attorneys, and medical professionals. Dr. Laufer is the author of the qualitative research paper It Shows You Your Fears, which explores the inner experience of postpartum psychosis, and has written extensively on maternal infanticide and filicide. She has also participated in advocacy efforts to include postpartum psychosis in the DSM. In our conversation, we explore how we can make sense of these experiences, why certain themes—like religiosity—can emerge in psychotic content, and what the recovery journey can look like, from acute stabilization to long-term processing and growth. Trigger warning: We discuss criminal cases Dr. Laufer has served as an expert witness for, including one where a baby drowned as part of a delusional ‘baptism.’ Resources: Dr. Brooke Laufer’s WebsiteBook: Uncovering the Act of Maternal Infanticide from a Psychological, Political, and Jungian PerspectiveDark Mother Groups & WorkshopsCitations: Kleiman, K., & Waller, H. (2023, March 2). The art of holding perinatal women in Distress. Women’s health reports. Laufer, B., & Mun, N. (2025, April 21). “It shows you your fears”: A qualitative analysis and psychoanalytic interpretation of the psychotic content of postpartum psychosis Psychosis: Vol 17 , no 3 - get access. Taylor & Francis. Westhead, M., & Georgiades, A. (2025, July 3). The role of spirituality and religiosity in the maintenance and recovery of psychosis: A systematic review. Early intervention in psychiatry.

    1h 6m
  3. Meghan & Colin’s Journey: Collecting Breadcrumbs, Misdiagnosed Bipolar, and Mindfulness After Postpartum Psychosis

    12/22/2025

    Meghan & Colin’s Journey: Collecting Breadcrumbs, Misdiagnosed Bipolar, and Mindfulness After Postpartum Psychosis

    In our first partner perspective episode, we sit down with Meghan and Colin to hear their joint experience with postpartum psychosis, which emerged eight months after the birth of their second child. Living and working in New York City, far from family support, they were blindsided by Meghan’s sudden psychotic behavior. Colin reflects on protecting their kids while navigating Meghan’s urges to get onto the apartment roof—and weighing the potential repercussions of calling emergency services. Meghan shares the challenges of being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and only learning about postpartum psychosis after connecting with a reproductive psychiatrist after discharge. Together, they reflect on the decision to have another child and the ways the experience reshaped their personal and professional lives. They discuss the realities of long-term recovery, gaps in maternal health care, and the lasting impacts on relationships, parenting, and life priorities. Trigger Warning: This conversation includes mentions of suicidal delusions, a family member's suicide, and some language. Resources: I love you just the way you are - Meghan’s NewsletterPSI Perinatal Mental Health Provider DirectoryPostpartum Psychosis Support Group - PSIPostpartum Planning ResourceCitations: Gilden, J., Kamperman, A., Munk-Olsen, T., Kushner, S., & Bergink, V. (2020, March 10). Long-term outcomes of postpartum psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of clinical psychiatry. Rommel, A.-S., Molenaar, N. M., Gilden, J., Kushner, S. A., Westerbeek, N. J., Kamperman, A. M., & Bergink, V. (2021, October 28). Long-term outcome of postpartum psychosis: A prospective clinical cohort study in 106 women - international journal of bipolar disorders. SpringerLink. Wesseloo , R., Kamperman, A. M., Munk-Olsen, T., Pop , V., Kushner, S., & Bergink, V. (2015, October 15). Risk of postpartum relapse in bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The American journal of psychiatry.

    1h 26m
  4. Getting Loud About Postpartum Psychosis: Dr. Veerle Bergink on Research, Care, and Unanswered Questions

    12/15/2025

    Getting Loud About Postpartum Psychosis: Dr. Veerle Bergink on Research, Care, and Unanswered Questions

    Dr. Veerle Bergink, MD, PhD, a leading expert in perinatal psychiatry, shares how she began studying postpartum psychosis. She shares insights from her landmark cohort study and other work, discussing sleep disruption, immune and hormonal changes, and thyroid dysfunction as factors in postpartum psychosis. She also shares unanswered questions about psychosis and bipolar, including risk factors, biological triggers, and long-term outcomes including risks around menopause. We discuss ideal care scenarios, the importance of specialized perinatal psychiatric care, and how supporting a parent’s mental health is central to family well-being. Dr. Bergink emphasizes the need to GET LOUD about awareness, research, and advocacy around postpartum psychosis. Resources: Make Postpartum Psychosis a Distinct Disorder in the DSM, Expert Panel SaysFussy Baby Network - 888-431-BABYMotherToBaby - 866-626-6847National Pregnancy Registry for Psychiatric DrugsCitations: Bergink, V., Akbarian, S., Byatt, N., Thippeswamy, H., Vigod, S., & Payne, J. (2025, October 2). Postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder: Review of Neurobiology and expert consensus statement on classification. - biological psychiatry. Biological Psychiatry.Gordon-Smith, K., Perry, A., Florio, A. D., Craddock, N., Jones, I., & Jones, L. (2024, November 14). Associations between lifetime reproductive events among postmenopausal women with bipolar disorder - archives of Women’s Mental Health. SpringerLink.Johnson, K. (2025, October 31). Make postpartum psychosis a distinct disorder, experts say. Medscape.Valdimarsdóttir, U., Hultman, C. M., Harlow, B., Cnattingius, S., & Sparén, P. (2009, February 10). Psychotic illness in first-time mothers with no previous psychiatric hospitalizations: A population-based study. PLOS Medicine.

    1h 15m
  5. Aaisha’s Account: Dismissed Postpartum Psychosis, A Mom Like That, and the Bleeding Rainbow of PMADs

    12/09/2025

    Aaisha’s Account: Dismissed Postpartum Psychosis, A Mom Like That, and the Bleeding Rainbow of PMADs

    Writer and advocate Aaisha Alvi, a postpartum psychosis survivor based in Canada, shares her two experiences with PPP — first completely missed after the birth of her daughter, and later only diagnosed after seeing six different providers following a miscarriage. Her memoir, A Mom Like That: A Memoir of Postpartum Psychosis, offers a raw look into her delusions and the barriers that often delay diagnosis and treatment, especially for women of color. She volunteers and speaks widely about why PPP must be treated as the medical emergency it is - and never be referred to as ‘rare.’ Trigger warning: We discuss intrusive thoughts of harm to her baby and suicidal ideation. Resources: A Mom Like That: A Memoir on Postpartum PsychosisGoogle Books PreviewInstagram - @aaishaalviwritesCitations: Accortt, E. et al (2023, March 19). Association between diagnosed perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and adverse perinatal outcomes. The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicineBonham, V. L. (2021, January 1). Race, ethnicity, and pain treatment: Striving to understand the causes and solutions to the disparities in pain treatment: Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. Cambridge Core.Farr, S. L et al (2020, September 3). Postpartum anxiety and comorbid depression in a population-based sample of women. Journal of women’s health.Fekih-Romdhane, F. et al (2024, August 29). Relationship between childhood trauma and postpartum psychotic experiences: The role of postnatal anxiety and depression as mediators. BMC psychiatry.McGuire, D. et al (2019, June 14). Prevalence of cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, hearing loss, and Blindness 2009-2016. Disability and health journal.Yilanli, M. (2018, September 1). Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi and the first psychiatric ward | American Journal of Psychiatry. Psychiatry Online.

    1h 16m
  6. Advocating for Women and Reimagining Perinatal Care: Dr. Catherine Birndorf on The Motherhood Center and Postpartum Psychosis

    11/21/2025

    Advocating for Women and Reimagining Perinatal Care: Dr. Catherine Birndorf on The Motherhood Center and Postpartum Psychosis

    In this episode, we talk with Dr. Catherine Birndorf, reproductive psychiatrist and Founder & Medical Director of The Motherhood Center of New York, to talk about postpartum psychosis, the challenges in perinatal mental health care, and what it takes to build meaningful support for women and families. Dr. Birndorf shares: The clinical realities of postpartum psychosis — how it presents, how it’s distinguished from mood and anxiety disorders, and why rapid treatment mattersThe relationship between postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorderThe default treatment approaches, including hospitalization and medicationWhy developing a partial hospitalization program in the U.S. is so difficult — from insurance barriers to legal limitationsHer mission-driven commitment to women’s mental health, including advocating for informed choices, supporting women in a still-paternalistic medical system, and honoring the feminist values that shaped herHow The Motherhood Center offers a level of support that many outpatient women’s programs don’t — especially for those who need structured, intensive careWe touch briefly on my own experience with postpartum psychosis; I’ll share more of that conversation in an upcoming personal reflections episode. Trigger warning: we mention as an aside the importance of treatment for postpartum psychosis considering realities of potential infanticide or suicide. Resources: The Motherhood Center of New York - Dr. Catherine BirndorfDialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Psychotherapy Interventions in the Perinatal PeriodThe Center for Women's Mental Health at Mass General - Dr. Lee CohenTelepsychiatry offerings (California) - Dr. Vivien BurtWomen’s Mental Health Program at University of Wisconsin - Madison - Dr. Zachary StowePsychiatry offerings at Columbia University - Dr. Meg SpinelliCitations: Fekih-Romdhane, F., Hadathy, D. E., Malaeb, D., Barakat, H., & Hallit, S. (2024, August 29). Relationship between childhood trauma and postpartum psychotic experiences: The role of postnatal anxiety and depression as mediators - BMC psychiatry. BioMed Central. Gemmill, A., Franks, A. M., Anjur-Dietrich, S., Ozinsky, A., Arbour, D., Stuart, E. A., Ben-Michael, E., Feller, A., & Bell, S. O. (2025, April 15). US abortion bans and infant mortality. JAMA.

    46 min
  7. Jigyna’s Reflections: Navigating Fertility, Dancing Knives in Undiagnosed Postpartum Psychosis, and a Twin Surprise

    11/13/2025

    Jigyna’s Reflections: Navigating Fertility, Dancing Knives in Undiagnosed Postpartum Psychosis, and a Twin Surprise

    Jigyna shares her powerful personal journey through perinatal mental health challenges. She is a South Asian mom of three, maternal mental health advocate, and support group facilitator with PSI, Group Peer Support, and The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. From fertility struggles and PCOS to a traumatic first birth, and from postpartum depression and anxiety to undiagnosed postpartum psychosis marked by violent visions, dancing knives, and seeing in black and white, Jigyna’s story is both harrowing and inspiring. She also reflects on a later surprise twin pregnancy and the impact of cultural stigma within her South Asian community. In this conversation, Jigyna highlights the importance of sleep, advocating for yourself, and leaning on community - even when recovery isn’t linear. She shares wisdom on postpartum planning, giving space for ups and downs, and the power of connection in supporting moms through their journeys. Trigger warning: We discuss symptoms of depression and postpartum psychosis, including violent delusions and suicidal thoughts. Please take care as you listen. Resources: PSI Postpartum PlanPostpartum Plan - Postpartum VirginiaPostpartum Wellness Workbook - The Nesting PlacePSI Support GroupsGroup Peer Support GroupsCitations: Bergink, V., Akbarian, S., Byatt, N., Chandra, P., Cirino, N., Dazzan, P., & De Witte, L. (2025a, October 22). Postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder: Review of Neurobiology and expert consensus statement on classification. - sciencedirect. Biological Psychiatry.Bergink, V., Akbarian, S., Byatt, N., Chandra, P., Cirino, N., Dazzan, P., & De Witte, L. (2025b, October 22). Postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder: Review of Neurobiology and expert consensus statement on classification. - sciencedirect. Biological Psychiatry.Gaskell, C., Simmonds-Buckley, M., Kellett, S., Stockton, C., Somerville, E., Rogerson, E., & Delgadillo, J. (2022, October 6). The effectiveness of psychological interventions delivered in routine practice: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Administration and policy in mental health.Schoretsanitis, G., Gastaldon, C., Kalaitzopoulos, D., Ochsenbein-Koelble, N., Barbui, C., & Seifritz, E. (2021, December 23).Polycystic ovary syndrome and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Journal of affective disorders.

    1 hr
  8. Sarah’s Story: Growing Balls, Emergency C-Sections, and the Tornado of Postpartum Psychosis

    11/07/2025

    Sarah’s Story: Growing Balls, Emergency C-Sections, and the Tornado of Postpartum Psychosis

    In this episode, Sarah - a nurse, mom, and mental health advocate - takes us inside her whirlwind journey through postpartum psychosis. From a premature birth and NICU stay to walking into her own workplace in the grips of psychosis and professing her love to her once boss, Sarah shares the moments that shocked her and those around her. She uses a tornado as a metaphor for the chaos of postpartum psychosis, reflects on her bipolar diagnosis, and wonders about the connection between thyroid health and mental health. Most importantly, Sarah shows how recovery is possible and why whole-family support, sleep, and community matter. Trigger warning: we discuss some death related delusions, and suicidal thoughts. Take care as you listen. Resources: Sarah’s instagramPSI Online Support GroupsPSI Peer Mentor ProgramCitations: Bergink, V., Kushner, S. A., Pop, V., Kuijpens, H., Berg, M. P. L. den, Drexhage, R. C., Wiersinga, W., Nolen, W. A., & Drexhage, H. A. (2018, January 2). Prevalence of autoimmune thyroid dysfunction in postpartum psychosis: The British Journal of Psychiatry. Cambridge Core.Caropreso, L., de Azevedo Cardoso, T., Eltayebani, M., & Frey, B. N. (2019, December 4). Preeclampsia as a risk factor for postpartum depression and psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of women’s mental health.Cohen, L. S., Arakelian, M., Church, T. R., Dunk, M. M., Gaw, M. L., Yoon, H. E., Kobylski, L. A., Vanderkruik, R., & Freeman, M. P. (2024, December 6). The phenomenology of postpartum psychosis: Preliminary findings from the Massachusetts General Hospital postpartum psychosis project. Nature News.Soh, X. C., Majeed, N. M., Sim, L., Reyes, M., Ling, N., & Hartanto, A. (2025, August 18). Prevalence of depression, anxiety, burden, Burnout, and stress in informal caregivers: An umbrella review of meta-analyses. ScienceDirect.

    1h 14m
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What happens when motherhood collides with a mental health crisis that even doctors struggle to recognize? Postpartum psychosis is a mental health condition that is said to affect about 1–2 in every 1,000 births. This is less common than other mental health conditions - though with 130–140 million births worldwide each year, we’re talking about 130,000–364,000 new cases annually. Across years, as many as 4 million survivors of postpartum psychosis may be living today - yet too often, our stories go unheard. We're creating space to hear those stories. In this podcast, we explore postpartum psychosis in all its complexity - our researched understanding as well as human experiences. We'll weave perspectives into an honest, compassionate conversation - making space for both the heaviness and the hope. We bring together: Survivors who’ve lived through the stormResearchers uncovering what we know (and what we still don’t)Clinicians on the frontlines of carePartners and loved ones who witnessed the unthinkable Here, we normalize Mom Breaks - both the psychotic kind no one asks for, and the everyday kind everyone needs. A delusion I had during my psychosis was that I could reach an altered state where I wouldn’t have to care for myself at all, and could endlessly serve others. The truth - the cure, in many ways - is the opposite. We all need breaks. The small, regular pauses we build into our days and family routines are just as relevant as the bigger, harder interruptions that force us to stop. Mom Breaks remind us that caring for ourselves is not selfish—it’s what allows us to thrive and care for the people we love. We’re here to shine light, offer understanding, and remind each other that nobody has to walk this path alone. If you’ve lived it, love someone who has, or simply believe these stories need to be heard - welcome.

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