Special thanks to HER Foundation Advisory Council member, Elizabeth Lowder, MSW, LCSW, for helping develop this content.
The Lindsay Clancy trial has brought renewed national attention to the devastating consequences of severe perinatal mental illness and the urgent need to recognize and respond to maternal mental-health symptoms before they become a crisis. While the circumstances of this case are extraordinarily complex, an important message must not be overlooked. Pregnant and postpartum people experiencing severe physical or psychological distress need to be heard, believed, assessed, and treated promptly.
About postpartum psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is a distinct, rare psychiatric emergency. HG has not been established as a direct cause. But the national conversation surrounding this case reinforces why perinatal mental health cannot be separated from physical health. Suicidal thoughts, severe depression, frightening or intrusive thoughts, profound anxiety, psychosis, confusion, or a dramatic change in functioning during pregnancy or postpartum should never be dismissed as an inevitable part of pregnancy or parenthood.
For the HG community
For the Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) community, this conversation is especially important. HG is a potentially debilitating pregnancy disease associated with increased risks of anxiety, depression, PTSD, postpartum depression, and suicidal ideation. Research finds that 52% of HG patients report psychiatric problems after HG.
People with severe HG may also face multiple physical and psychosocial vulnerabilities (83% experience at least one negative psychosocial impact). These can include prolonged malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, severe sleep disruption, medication side effects or interactions, isolation, trauma, loss of normal functioning, and concerns about their own health or their baby’s health. These effects can persist into the postpartum period.
Importantly, changes in mental status are not always solely psychiatric. Severe thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency and Wernicke’s encephalopathy can cause confusion, cognitive and behavioral changes, hallucinations, and other severe neuropsychiatric symptoms. Medication adverse effects and interactions may also contribute.
When someone with HG develops a significant change in mood, thinking, behavior, sleep, or functioning, both medical and psychiatric causes should be considered in diagnosis and treatment.
Call to action for maternal mental health
We must do better at recognizing suffering before it becomes a crisis. Listening to pregnant and postpartum people – and responding to the whole clinical picture with appropriate medical and mental-health care – can save lives.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or feels unable to remain safe, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Pregnant and postpartum people can also call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). In an immediate medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. The HER Foundation also provides HG-specific support and resources for families.
Please note: The information above is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. The HER Foundation does not provide medical care or prescribe medications. Any decisions about supplements, medications, or treatment should be made with your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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