Today’s guest shares her story of postpartum psychosis, including the contributing factors, navigating the healthcare system, the overall lack of understanding of PMADs, and the preventative actions she took for her second pregnancy. She shares how her experience propelled her to take considerable steps to help and support others.
Nancy Di Nuzzo, a mother of two, is an accountant-turned-postpartum doula. She is the founder of Anamav Postnatal Care, an agency providing comprehensive postpartum care in the Greater Toronto area. Their services include doula support, lactation support, psychotherapy, and sleep coaching. Nancy was inspired to create Anamav after her own traumatic postpartum experiences. As a perinatal mental health advocate, she is fiercely determined to support new parents and families to help fill the gaps in our healthcare system.
Show Highlights:
Nancy’s first pregnancy experience with her daughter, born in 2020: In summary, sleep deprivation led to the first postpartum psychotic episode and subsequent hospitalization.
The labor and delivery and the first five days postpartum, when everything changed for Nancy
Feeling the intensity of hyperdrive and an overwhelming need for perfection
Hallucinations (not threatening or violent) and a break from reality that prompted a call to 911
A shocking twist: The ER records showed suspected postpartum psychosis, but they still discharged Nancy and prescribed sleeping pills; she ended up back there three days later.
Cultural stigma and family interference that did not help Nancy
Nancy’s misdiagnosis from the psychiatrist: A bipolar disorder that required lifelong medication
The first night in the hospital and the traumatic events that still haunt Nancy’s memories
Reconnecting with her daughter after a week-long stay in the hospital
Preparing for a second pregnancy with preventative measures–and finding a very different birth and postpartum experience in 2023
Nancy’s perspective on what SHOULD have happened during her first pregnancy and how we can do better in the area of awareness
The facts: Every postpartum journey is different; problems can happen with a first, second, or third pregnancy—or with none at all.
Anamav Postnatal and how they work to help others
Resources:
Connect with Nancy Di Nuzzo and Anamav Postnatal: Website and Instagram
Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov
Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone or text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources available, including online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to become more supportive in offering services.
You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms
Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.
Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!
If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!
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