In this episode we have Marielis sharing her experience with postpartum psychosis. I usually don’t do two birth stories in a row but in light of the Lindsay Clancy case I thought it was important to release this one today. If you haven’t heard about it yet, Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children and is now a paraplegic as a result of a suicide attempt. It is suspected that this was due to postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis is relatively rare, occurring in only 1 to 2 births out of 1,000. And homicidal behavior is uncommon among those with the diagnosis. Psychosis is a disturbance in an individual's perception of reality which can manifest in the form of delusions and hallucinations among other symptoms. This is what Marielis experienced after giving birth. Once she realized something was wrong, she did everything right: listened to her intuition, communicated that she felt off, sought help early, and followed through on her medication and therapy plan. Today she is doing well and wants to spread awareness in hopes of preventing future tragedies. In this Episode, You’ll Learn About: -What psychosis felt like for Marielis -What the early signs were that something was wrong -How her condition made her feel about her baby -Why being a woman of color made her hesitant to seek care -How her family supported her during her mental health crisis -How Marielis’s psychosis was treated -What risk factors increase the likelihood of postpartum psychosis -When postpartum psychosis presents after birth -- Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode196 Check out The Birth Preparation Course Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way