A Mom Like That: Aaisha Alvi’s Journey with Postpartum Psychosis

Midwifery Wisdom Podcast

We’re so grateful to welcome Aaisha Alvi, author of the powerful new book A Mom Like That, to the podcast. In this episode, Aaisha shares her harrowing journey through postpartum psychosis with unflinching honesty. While early motherhood is often depicted as a time of joy and connection, Aaisha’s experience was marked by delusions, terrifying thoughts, and a health system that repeatedly failed to provide the support she desperately needed.

When her second pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 14 weeks, Aaisha’s psychosis returned—this time, accompanied by unimaginable and intrusive voices urging her to harm her daughter and others. Feeling evil and unworthy of life, Aaisha sought help repeatedly, only to be turned away at every turn.

Driven by her mission to ensure no woman endures the prolonged suffering she faced, Aaisha is raising awareness about this life-threatening condition through her book, social media presence, and volunteering with Postpartum Support International. Her work is helping families access the resources they need to prevent tragic outcomes.

Her story is a powerful call to action, shedding light on a condition that remains widely misunderstood and stigmatized, particularly for women of color. It challenges us to foster better awareness, compassion, and support for those navigating postpartum psychosis in silence.

In this conversation, Aaisha also shares invaluable insights for perinatal providers, helping them recognize the symptoms of postpartum psychosis and offer critical support to women in their care. This is an essential episode—listen and learn.

Trigger Warning:

In this episode, we discuss postpartum psychosis, including intrusive suicidal and homicidal thoughts. These are difficult topics, and some listeners may find this conversation distressing. Please listen with care, and if you feel this content may be overwhelming for you, consider skipping this episode or ensuring you have support available as you listen.

Links:

• Support your local indie bookstore and buy A Mom Like That by Aaisha Alvi. Also available at major retailers and as an ebook and audiobook.
• Follow Aaisha on Instagram: @aaishaalviwrites and visit her website: aaishaalvi.com.
• Postpartum Support International: Promoting awareness, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing worldwide.