Erotomania in relation to childbirth

Article Abstract:

In erotomania syndrome there is a sudden onset of a delusion of romantic involvement with a person of higher social or economic status; the condition mainly affects women. Primary erotomania occurs in the absence of an associated psychiatric illness, while secondary erotomania is thought to be a symptom of a psychiatric illness such as schizophrenia or an affective (mood) disorder. The first case report linking erotomania to pregnancy and childbirth is presented. A 40-year-old mother of two daughters, aged 12 and 3 years, began feeling a great attraction from her general practitioner (GP) while she was pregnant with her youngest child. Shortly after giving birth the woman was sure the doctor had found a means of silently communicating with her over the telephone. Over the next three years she continued to believe that she received messages from him via radio and newspapers, as well as on the telephone. The woman contacted and visited him often and sent him passionate letters. Sleeping and eating disorders also developed in the patient. Upon hospitalization, approximately three and one half years after the onset of the psychosis, the woman demonstrated no psychosis other than the delusion about her GP. Medical history revealed no prior psychosis or familial pattern of psychosis. The relationship with her husband had been good, although the unplanned second pregnancy had created financial and marital strain. The patient's husband was prone to depression; he also had to take on extra work and was unavailable and non-supportive during the last trimester of her pregnancy. After treatment with a piperazine neuroleptic (an antipsychotic drug) and daily attendance of ward group meetings for a two-month period, the delusions resolved. Although this case does not fulfill all the criteria for pure erotomania (the delusion did not have a sudden, explosive onset), it does meet all criteria for delusional disorder, erotomanic type. It is posited that this patient's erotomania was secondary, and occurred when psychological and social stressors were catalyzed by the physiological trigger of pregnancy and childbirth, and the need for support was transferred from her unavailable husband to her GP. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Case studies, Pregnancy, Complications of, Pregnancy complications, Psychosexual disorders

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Comparative neonatal morbidity of abdominal and vaginal deliveries after uncomplicated pregnancies

Article Abstract:

Newborns delivered by cesarean section after a normal pregnancy may be more likely to require respiratory support than vaginally-delivered infants. Researchers studied the medical data of 11,702 mothers who had a normal pregnancy and their newborns. Of these, 10,871 infants were delivered vaginally and 831 were delivered by cesarean section. Newborns delivered by cesarean section were more likely than vaginally-delivered infants to have a one-minute Apgar score less than four and to require resuscitation. Compared to vaginally-delivered infants, cesarean section-delivered infants were nearly five times as likely to require intensive or intermediate care at hospital admission and were more than three times as likely to require intubation or more aggressive respiratory support. Delivery by cesarean section while under local anesthesia was not associated with an increased risk of resuscitation compared to vaginal delivery.

Usage, Newborn infants, Cesarean section, Respiratory therapy, Respiratory therapy for newborn infants

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Best delivery time different for single, multiple births

Article Abstract:

A single fetus should be born at 40 weeks while twin fetuses should be born at 37-38 weeks. Neonatal death risks are increased if pregnancies last beyond these time spans. There was not enough information on higher multiple births to discern their optimum birth time. These findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn for May 8, 1996.

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