Antenatal Depression And The Role Of The Nurse

Postpartum depression is one of the most common complications of childbearing with an estimated prevalence of 19.2% in the first three months after delivery (1). Depressive episodes (major and mild) may be experienced by approximately half of women during the first postpartum year (1). Characterized by depressed mood, loss of pleasure or interest in daily activities, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, irritability, sleep and eating disturbances (2), its etiology is multi-faceted and complex (3;4).

When a woman gives birth to a child, it can be one of the most joyous and exciting moments in her life, yet it can also be difficult and stressful. There are a range of emotional, behavioral, and physical changes that occur shortly after a woman gives birth. These changes are common; however, many women who experience these emotions may have postpartum depression, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Many women require medical treatment. Although all causes of postpartum depression are unknown, there are many factors that can put a woman at risk. This essay provides an overview of postpartum depression, the impact it has on the individual client, the newborn, and the family, the physical and mental assessment

Often the time after birth is a filled with joy and happiness due to the arrival of a new baby. However, for some mothers the birth of a baby leads to some complicated feelings that are unexpected. Up to 85% of postpartum woman experience a mild depression called “baby blues” (Lowdermilk, Perry, Cashion, & Alden, 2012). Though baby blues is hard on these mothers, another form of depression, postpartum depression, can be even more debilitating to postpartum woman. Postpartum depression affects about 15% (Lowdermilk et al., 2012) of postpartum woman. This disorder is not only distressing to the mother but to the whole family unit. This is why it is important for the nurse to not only recognize the signs and symptoms of a mother with postpartum depression, but also hopefully provide preventative care for the benefit of everyone involved.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major event occurring in eight to fifteen percent of the woman population after delivering their child (Glavin, Smith, Sørum & Ellefsen, 2010). The symptoms and causes of PPD are similar to depression symptoms in other periods of life (Glavin et al., 2010). These symptoms may include feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, loss of interest in daily activities, sleep changes, anger or irritability, loss of energy, self-loathing, reckless behavior and concentration problems. These symptoms may lead to other factors that are detrimental to the child bearing and rearing family.

A new addition to the family brings a lot changes; the good and the bad, as well as, mixed emotions during the first couple weeks after delivery. Parents may experience loss of sleep, loss of appetite, new schedules, and trying to determine why the child is crying/upset. However, depression is often an unanticipated occurrence. Families with more than one child, may not understand why the mother is experiencing these symptoms with this baby and not with the other children. Fathers may tell the mother to “get over” and be “normal”, but in reality, it is not as easy as it seems. The father may put a lot of pressure on the mother to be a stay-at-home-mom, while they go to work and not feel the need to help out as much within the home. The percentage of depression is 18.4% during pregnancy and 19.2% postpartum (Evans, Heron, Francomb., Oke, & Golding, 2001).

The article “Postpartum Depression” written by Sara Thurgood, Dr. Daniel M. Avery MD, and Dr. Lloyd Williamson, is engrossing and informatively written. Postpartum depression (PPD) is becoming an increasingly common issue among women after childbirth. PPD remains the most common perinatal psychiatric disorder, women are at greatest risk during the first year after giving birth. “Postpartum Depression” discusses what PPD is, how to treat it, and how a mother’s PPD affect her child’s development. This is a summary of what the authors of “Postpartum Depression” include in their article.

Postpartum depression is a significant problem as it is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity. Developing a screening tool to address the issue early can provide the necessary interventions to avoid further undesirable problems down the road. As we know, early detection is key in prevention. Developing questionnaires that can identify multiple risk factors can help better identify women who are more likely to be at risk. The following study addresses the following risk factors in the categories of socio demographics, biological, pregnancy related factors, life stressors, social support, obstetric, and maternal adjustment.

Many psychosocial stressors may have an impact on the development of postpartum depression. The greater risk of postpartum depression is a history of major depression and those who have experienced depression during past pregnancies. Untreated maternal depression can have a negative effect on child development, mother-infant bonding, and risk of anxiety or depressive symptoms in infants later in life. Management of postpartum depression is a vital part of adequate medical care.” (Patel, Bailey, Jabeen, Ali, Barker, and Osiezagha,

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition diagnosed in birth mothers upon returning home from the hospital after giving birth and feeling adrift. Symptoms may include depressed mood or severe mood swings from the first few weeks, to up to six months after birth. While hormonal changes is just one of the many factors that contribute to PPD, sleep deprivation, lifestyle, and environment may also affect any new parent (Smith, & Segal, 2016). Although our knowledge about PPD has greatly advanced in recent years, many aspects of pregnancy and the postpartum depression process are not understood and could be contributing to the high prevalence and low treatment rates. Three areas need to be further addressed to better understand postpartum

Ans.1) Postnatal depression is a clinical practice term describes the signs and symptoms which women may experience after childbirth. It effects majority of females but 4-25% of new fathers also affected by depression. Postnatal depression (PND) has a major impact on maternal physical and mental health. It affects around 12 to15% of all childbearing women in Australia. The prevalence may vary 3% to 30% depends assessment time. There are about 250,000 births each year in Australia, from which at least 25,000 to 50,000 women are likely to be affected by PND every year (Yelland, Sutherland, & Brown,2010).In 40% to 70% cases, the onset of postnatal depression arise in first 3 months. It often persist for many months. 25% to 60%of cases remit

First-time mothers are more susceptible to experiencing Postpartum Depression (PPD) and less likely to receive treatment for this disorder. PPD can be difficult to diagnose because women are often self -reporting and less likely to be forthcoming with their symptoms and detecting PPD becomes a public health problem (Yonkers, 2001, p. 1856). PPD is a health concern because it impacts the woman, baby, and family members especially if PPD goes untreated. There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration for women who may be at a greater risk for experiencing depression during the PPD period. A woman may begin experiencing symptoms after three months of delivering the child and experiencing physical and

Only around 15% of women receive the proper help they need. The exact numbers are unknown considering the stigma that surrounds any type of mental health issue. The majority of affected mothers don’t have the resources to obtain the proper treatment for their symptoms or for their children. Previous studies have shown that mothers with postpartum depression tend to negatively affect the development of their infant. “Children outcomes include poor cognitive functioning, as well as emotional and behavioral problems such as increased risk for externalizing disorders and future psychopathology.” (Werner, Gustafsson, Lee, Feng, Jiang, Desai, & Monk, 2015). It has been proven that postpartum depression “dysregulates maternal cognitive and affective function and in turn interferes with the mother’s ability to notice and interpret her infant’s cues accurately, contingently and sensitively.” (Horowitz, Murphy, Gregory, Wojcik, Pulcini, & Solon, 2013) causing them more frustration and preventing them from properly caring and stimulating the child. Postpartum depression is such a serious condition that not only can it cost the life of the mother but also the life of the

Post-Partum Depression (PPD) is the last thing on most mother’s minds during pregnancy and labor. However, for a number women after childbirth, the joy that is expected doesn’t arrive. The joy isn’t there when they bring the baby home, and it continues to evade them well into taking care of the baby. So what happens during such an emotional and delicate time in life? This paper will attempt to delve into the intricacies of PPD and its effects on the mother and the family unit. Symptoms, risk factors, historical treatments, current treatments, complications, and preventative techniques will be included.

It is estimated by the American Psychiatric Association that 14% to 23% of women experience depression during pregnancy (Miranda, Chung, Green, Krupnick, & Belin, 2003). Various studies demonstrated that depression during pregnancy is related to poor birth outcomes, specifically preterm birth, low birth weight, or intrauterine growth restriction (Grote et al., 2010). The effects of depression are more prevalent for those of a lower socioeconomic status (Grote et al., 2010). Overall, it is approximated that these depressive symptoms increase the risk of PTB, LBW, and IUGR by

Maternal depression can have effects on many individuals. It is a disorder that can have ramifications on women, men, children, and families. Maternal depression is not a disorder that just happens postnatal , this diagnosis can occur in the prenatal stages. It 's estimated that 1 in 10 pregnant women and 13 percent of new mothers experience depression. Maternal depression is a mood disorder that begins before or immediately after childbirth. It affects a mother or fathers ability to adequately care for her young child (Wahowiak, 2014). Symptoms include changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns, irritability, mood swings, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, crying jags and difficulty concentrating. Unlike the "baby blues," which typically last only a few weeks, postpartum depression lasts longer and can be more severe. In addition, a lack of energy, withdrawal from family and friends, unexplained anxiety, and certain physical ailments such as headaches and heart palpitations could also be symptoms of depression. On average, maternal depression peaks 4 years after the birth of their child .individuals experiencing maternal depression may also find that they are uninterested in the new baby or have irrational fears of harming them (Wahowiak, 2014). Individuals who suffer from maternal depression are less likely to implement safety measures in the home, such as the use of child safety gates, electrical outlet covers and car seats and they are less likely