In a recent incident in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, a 23-year-old woman suffering from postpartum psychosis (PPP) placed her 15-day-old newborn infant inside a refrigerator. The baby was discovered by the grandmother after she heard cries coming from the kitchen. The infant was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and is now safe and healthy.

The incident occurred on September 5th after the mother, a resident of Jabbar Colony, became upset because her baby was restless and crying. After several unsuccessful attempts to soothe the child, she put the baby in the refrigerator and went to her room to sleep. When questioned by family members about her actions, she calmly stated that she put the baby in the refrigerator because "He was not sleeping".

The family initially took her to a local occult practitioner for counseling, but after seeing no change, they consulted with relatives who advised them to seek medical advice. A psychiatric doctor diagnosed her with postpartum psychiatric psychosis.

Postpartum psychosis is a rare but severe mental illness that can affect individuals shortly after childbirth. It is considered a medical emergency, requiring immediate attention, as those affected may be at risk of harming themselves or their children. It is far more acute than postpartum depression, affecting approximately one to two women out of every 1,000 births. Unfortunately, around 10 percent of postpartum psychosis cases result in suicide or infanticide.

Dr. Jyotsna Mehta, a gynaecologist and obstetrician from Lucknow, emphasizes that postpartum psychiatric disorders should be treated as medical emergencies. She noted that many new mothers suffer silently because families and frontline health workers often miss the early signs. While "baby blues" are common, unusual behavior, loss of touch with reality, or harmful thoughts are red flags.

Alexa Hall, a medical director with a special interest in outpatient psychiatry, explains that postpartum psychosis is a "severe and rare form of postpartum mood disorder". Symptoms can include audio and/or visual hallucinations, delusions, and abnormal thoughts or actions, and can also lead to rapid shifts in mood and behavior, disorientation, worry, anger, and severe difficulty sleeping. Kylie Chaffin, a licensed mental health counselor specializing in perinatal mental health, notes that women experiencing psychosis may have hallucinations where they no longer recognize their baby's face or believe someone has taken their baby.

There appears to be a link between psychosis and lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation is a common struggle for new mothers.

This case echoes other tragic situations where postpartum psychosis has played a role. The case of Lindsay Clancy, a labor and delivery nurse who allegedly killed her three children while experiencing postpartum psychosis, has prompted many mothers to share their own experiences with the condition, highlighting the importance of awareness and early intervention.

It is crucial to normalize the fact that many people have scary thoughts about their babies and to encourage open communication. Resources and professionals are available to help.