The stress and sleepless nights that new mothers are faced with sometimes push their mental health way past the typical mood swings of the so-called baby blues. Some are faced with a more lethal and rare diagnosis: postpartum psychosis. 

What is postpartum psychosis?
Postpartum depression, one of the more severe perinatal psychiatric conditions, affects about one in eight new mothers. By comparison, postpartum psychosis is "considerably rarer," said The New York Times. It's known to affect between one and two women per 1,000 births worldwide, though the number may be higher. 

The condition has a rapid onset, with symptoms that can include "hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, rapid changes in mood, confusion, and behavior changes," Psychology Today said. Some mothers might be "high-energy, talking faster than usual or staying awake for days," while others feel "depressed and disconnected from their baby," said the Times. In more extreme cases, women might have thoughts of harming themselves or the baby. They may experience command hallucinations, where they hear voices that instruct them to do dangerous things. The delusions "take over their mind and their body," Columbia University's Dr. Margaret Spinelli, who evaluated women on trial for killing their children while experiencing postpartum psychosis, said to the Times. "They are like puppets."

Postpartum psychosis is believed to be triggered by a combination of factors. Hormonal changes are thought to play a role. Environmental factors accompanying caring for a newborn, like sleep deprivation, also play their part. Women with a personal or family history of bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of developing postpartum psychosis, according to one study. 

Is it treatable?
Thankfully, the answer is yes. Postpartum psychosis requires emergent care, usually in the form of psychiatric hospitalization, to protect both mother and baby. In the U.S., women can stay at general psychiatric wards, but infants are not allowed to stay overnight; the average stay is less than two weeks. Overseas, mother-and-baby units allow them to stay together under careful supervision. Experts consider them the "gold standard of care," said the Times. Women can remain for months if needed.

The postpartum period is a "critical time" for new moms who are both "immensely at-risk and often overlooked," psychologist Mark Travers said at Forbes. Without support and treatment, "helpless mothers can tragically become criminals in the blink of an eye — when in reality, they're simply victims of circumstances beyond their control."

The majority of Americans favor stricter gun laws, according to polling. But neither the Democratic nor the Republican nominee for president has focused on gun violence in the 2024 election. The GOP nominee, former President Donald Trump, has not released many formal plans to alter gun laws, so his positions on the matter must be inferred from statements and past policy decisions.

Will Trump be a defender of gun owners' rights?
The word "guns" does not appear in Trump's "Plan to End Crime and Restore Law and Order" page on his campaign's Agenda 47 policy package. That is likely because he and most Republican lawmakers do not believe that curtailing access to guns will have any meaningful impact on crime rates or the country's mass shooting problem. Trump does promise that as president, he will "sign concealed carry reciprocity legislation," referencing a bill that passed the House in 2017 and would force states to allow anyone with a valid concealed carry permit to do so.

"Your Second Amendment will always be safe with me as your president," Trump said to a gathering of National Rifle Association (NRA) members in February. He has not modified his past opposition to a ban on assault weapons or strengthening background check procedures for potential gun buyers.

How will Trump combat school shootings?
Trump sides with most Republicans in recommending additional security measures at schools. "President Trump will support school districts that allow highly trained teachers to carry concealed weapons at school," his campaign states in an Agenda 47 item. During a recent debate, Trump's running mate J.D. Vance also said he supports increased funding for school security, although the campaign has not released any specific proposals.

How will the Supreme Court influence gun laws?
As president, Trump appointed three justices to the Supreme Court, all of whom were strong supporters of gun rights. The most high-profile decision made by the Court during this period was when a 6-3 majority, including Trump's appointees, ruled in 2022 that the Second Amendment guarantees individuals' right to carry guns outside of their homes, preempting state laws prohibiting firearms in public places.