111 – Can hormones help postpartum psychosis?

The Dr Louise Newson Podcast · Oct 20, 2026 · 34m

Can hormones help postpartum psychosis? Why the fall in estrogen and progesterone after birth is so often overlooked.

Jade Lloyd had her daughter in December 2020 after a three-day labour. Within months she was living with anxiety, intrusive thoughts and suicidal feelings, and when she asked her health visitor for help she was told to have a glass of wine, some chocolate and a bath. Weeks later she had her first psychotic episode and was admitted to a mother and baby unit, yet hormones were never once mentioned as part of her treatment.

Jade, now a maternal mental health advocate, talks to Dr…