There a few types of postpartum depression. These include the baby blues, postpartum depression, postpartum OCD, postpartum PTSD, and postpartum psychosis. If a mother has postpartum psychosis they will lose touch with reality. Often hallucinating, not being able to sleep at all, strange feelings and behaviors. Paranoia and delusions are the main factors in postpartum psychosis.
Postpartum psychosis needs to be treated immediately because there is an increased risk of suicide. Ideally, the patient will be admitted into a treatment center for evaluation. One in every thousand women will develop postpartum psychosis. Women with preexisting bipolar disorder are more likely to develop postpartum psychosis than other women. Around 10 percent of postpartum cases will result in suicide or infanticide, especially if it is not treated.
Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is another type of postpartum depression. Postpartum OCD affects roughly 3 percent of mothers. While symptoms include thoughts of harming the baby, this is rarely acted upon because moms who have PPOCD are aware that their thoughts are disturbing.
Moms who have traumatic birth experiences can experience postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is usually influenced by complications during birth, unplanned or emergency c-sections, premie baby being admitted into the NICU, and other traumas. Postpartum PTSD is unique but can affect up to 9 percent of mothers.