Mom Breaks: Science and Stories of Postpartum Psychosis

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. Each episode weaves voices and perspectives into an honest, compassionate conversation - making space for both the heaviness and the hope. We bring together:

• Survivors who’ve lived through the storm
• Researchers uncovering what we know (and what we still don’t)
• Clinicians on the frontlines of care
• Partners and loved ones who witnessed the unthinkable

 

Here, we normalize Mom Breaks - both the psychotic kind no one asks for, and the everyday kind every mom 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. You belong here.