'Inside my postpartum psychosis' | The Conversation | Focus on Africa

You may have heard about a trial currently underway in the US involving a tragic case in which a mother has been charged with killing her three children. Her lawyers have argued that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis at the time. The trial has put a spotlight on postpartum psychosis - a rare but severe mental health condition that can involve symptoms such as mania, depression, confusion and hallucinations. In Africa, psychiatrists say as many as three in 10 women may experience a maternal mental health condition. So, what is it like to experience postpartum psychosis, and how do you come out on the other side? Focus on Africa host Nkechi Ogbonna spoke to Chebet Birir, a 33-year-old journalist from Kenya and mother of four, about her journey with the illness. 00:00-00:45 Coming up 00:30-02:30 Meeting Chebet and Dr Lumu 02:30-04:15 Chebet's life before becoming a mother 04:15-05:10 Her pregnancy journey with her first child 05:10-07:10 Her mental health post-birth 07:10-08:15 Dr Lumu: expectations for motherhood 08:15-09:30 Chebet's diagnosis for postpartum psychosis 09:30-12:40 What is postpartum psychosis and how common is it? 12:40-14:30 Chebet' main symptoms 14:30-17:25 Dealing with postpartum psychosis 17:25-18:45 Having more children 18:45-21:35 What can be done to better support mothers? 21:35-22:50 Chebet's road to recovery 22:50-24:00 Dealing with stigma 24:00-25:00 How this journey has changed Chebet Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/ Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Carolyne Kiambo and Fana Negash Senior Producer: Priyanka Sippy Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla