Oahu mother shares experience with postpartum psychosis
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Lindsay Clancy murder trial has ignited a nationwide discussion about maternal mental health, and an Oahu mom is sharing her experience with postpartum psychosis.
Read more ‘Bows are Ninth Island bound for first road trip of the season
The National Institutes of Health says one in five women experience some kind of mood or anxiety disorder after childbirth.
The baby blues affect up to 85% of women, with most feeling sad or overwhelmed.
Postpartum depression is more widely known, with symptoms including persistent hopelessness and numbness.
The most serious condition is postpartum psychosis, or PPP. It’s rare, with about one to two cases per 1,000 births in the U.S., and is described as a disconnection from reality that causes hallucinations and paranoia.
“Your mind is not your own,” said Kristie Shintaku, Oahu mom and PPP survivor. “You just don’t have any real control over what your reality is.”
On Dec. 4, 2024, Kristie and her husband Bryce welcomed their daughter Hailey to the world at 36 weeks.
After a traumatic birth experience, Bryce started noticing something wasn’t quite right with his wife.
“He actually consulted one of the nurses on staff that day, like, something seems a little bit off about my wife, and the nurse is like, no, it’s just normal sleep deprivation, it’s just a big life adjustment,” said Kristie.
During their first week at home, Kristie slept just a handful of hours.
“Nothing was set up, so I was waking up to feed in the middle of the night, and I was like, well, I’m already up, I have the energy, I might as well tinker here and there, organize here and there,” she said.
At her first follow-up appointment with her OB-GYN, Kristie tested for postpartum depression and was prescribed medication.
But her symptoms kept getting more serious.
“Delusional thinking, really large and wide mood swings. My hyper-paranoia kicked in too, where I thought this is all just a test. I felt like I was on ‘The Truman Show’ and literally thinking that everyone was a paid actor around me,” Kristie said.
Worried about his wife, Bryce called 911.
Just 12 days after giving birth, Kristie was back in the hospital, admitted for inpatient care, and diagnosed with postpartum psychosis.
Read more Blessing held for revitalized shopping center in Moiliili
“I was the only postpartum mother in the inpatient unit, so there was no one going through anything remotely similar to what I was. I was still nursing at the time, leaking through shirts, trying to find a pump. I was able to see my husband and daughter about an hour every day during set visiting hours and that was kind of it,” she said.
Cases like Kristie’s are what inspired Maisa Ziegler, a licensed clinical social worker, to create “The Village Perinatal Program.”
“I was extremely concerned that there wasn’t more customized care,” Ziegler said. “In our culture, we have stopped really valuing motherhood and giving it the time, respect and support that it really deserves.”
Ziegler says before the Lindsay Clancy trial, most people never heard of PPP, a condition that is likely under-diagnosed and can be dangerous.
“There are 45 programs in the nation, over 25 states now, and Hawaii didn’t have one. If PPP is left untreated, we change the entire trajectory of a baby’s life,” Ziegler said.
Launching in August, “The Village” is Hawaii’s first intensive, online outpatient treatment program that helps mothers work through mental health conditions, so they don’t suffer in silence.
The group meets three times a week for structured clinical support, skills development, and peer connections with other women who are navigating similar struggles.
“We have created this to fill the gap between one-on-one care, all the way to hospitalization. Doctors are doing the checks at checkup, they’re asking the questions, but they don’t always have the places to send them,” Ziegler said.
Kristie says the support from her village got her through those dark days, and she now has more peace of mind to enjoy motherhood.
“Hailey is a ham, she’s so silly, super fun, very sassy. I look at her now, and I feel like I’m able to thrive as a mother,” Kristie said.
Read more Kekaha family grateful for support after home damaged by Hurricane Lowell
Post Comment