From Accountant to Advocate: Nancy Di Nuzzo’s Journey Through Postpartum Psychosis

Reclaiming Identity After Motherhood

Before becoming a mom, Nancy Di Nuzzo lived a fast-paced life as a career-driven accountant. With a passion for travel, dance, and ambition, motherhood wasn't always part of her original plan. But after an unexpected honeymoon pregnancy in early 2020—and a global pandemic shutting down the world shortly after—Nancy found herself stepping into a role she hadn’t fully prepared for.

“I didn’t even tell my husband right away. I was in total shock,” Nancy recalls.

A couple shares a joyful moment by the window after discovering a positive pregnancy test.

A Postpartum Psychosis Experience No One Prepares For

Despite meticulous birth planning—including hypnobirthing classes and dreams of a natural delivery—Nancy's postpartum reality was drastically different. After a traumatic birth experience during the height of COVID-19 restrictions, extreme sleep deprivation triggered postpartum psychosis, a less common but severe perinatal mental health disorder.

Nancy openly shares the harrowing details: hallucinations, multiple ER visits, a psychiatric hospitalization, and a heartbreaking separation from her newborn daughter. Yet through this darkness, her deep love for her child never wavered.

In a dimly lit hospital room, a mother sits alone, reflecting on her experience with postpartum psychosis.

Turning Pain Into Purpose: The Birth of Anamav

Nancy’s experience fueled a powerful mission: to ensure no other family faces the lack of support she encountered. Today, she is the founder of Anamav Postnatal Care, an organization dedicated to bridging gaps in postpartum support across Canada. From in-home doula services to lactation consulting, Nancy’s team is helping families feel prepared, supported, and empowered during the critical postnatal period.

The Power of Preparation and Community

Nancy emphasizes two key takeaways:

• Plan for postpartum with as much energy as you plan for labor. Set up support systems, manage expectations with family, and learn to recognize signs of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs).

• Seek help early. Organizations like Postpartum Support International offer free helplines and resources to connect parents with vital care.

• Learn more about Postpartum Psychosis symptoms and resources at Postpartum Support International.

“There is another side to PMADs,” Nancy says. “Advocacy, awareness, and real support systems can make all the difference.”

Follow Nancy’s work and advocacy on Instagram @anamavpostnatal and catch her episode to hear more.