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Jessica Pidsley

Matthew Bannister

Karen Rose

Drama on 4: Mama Courage

Mama Courage

12/05/2017

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Mama Courage

Comedian Jessica Pidsley's harrowing story about postpartum psychosis.

Comedian and writer Jessica Pidsley's story about her own experience of postpartum psychosis.

Jessica Pidsley was in perfect health, enjoying a career as an actress, comedian and writer at the end of a straightforward pregnancy with her husband Matthew Bannister.

"I describe Albert's first weeks as 'peace and war'. I delivered Albert myself in a pool in our dining room," she says.

But what happened next, nobody could have predicted. 

"I am the most unreliable of narrators to report what actually happened next. The birth was gentle and I remember feeling such love. Then came a tidal wave of terror."

During the subsequent eleven days, Jessica had only nine hours sleep.

This is her story about Post Partum Psychosis.

Writers: Jessica Pidsley and Matthew Bannister
Producer: Karen Rose

A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4.

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