Laura, 35, drove her family car straight at a wall, aiming to end her husband and newborn daughter’s lives.
The terrifying incident occurred after she had been awake for 40 hours following the birth of her daughter, Olivia.
Laura, who had never experienced mental health issues before, was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis just two weeks after giving birth. She described hallucinations of her daughter being harmed, leading to severe sleep deprivation and aggression towards her husband, Dan.
During a drive to a friend’s house, Laura’s mental state deteriorated further, leading her to accelerate towards the wall. Despite Dan managing to stop the car, Laura fled. Fortunately, she was intercepted, taken to the hospital, and eventually received six weeks of specialized care.
Postpartum psychosis affects up to 1,200 new mothers in England and Wales each year, causing hallucinations, delusions, and endangering both the mother and child.
