Effects Of Postpartum Depression In Women

The postpartum period is about going through change and transition from a woman to a new mother. This is a time where mothers restore muscle tone and connective tissue in the body after the birth of the baby. Although there is a dramatic change during the postpartum period, women’s body is nonetheless not fully stored to pre-pregnant physiology until about 6 months post-delivery (Osailan, 6). At this time, women need to receive special health and social support to prevent problems such as postpartum depression. During this period, culture plays a major role in the way a woman perceives and prepares for her birthing experience. In fact, the notions of birth and postnatal care vary considerably with cultural beliefs and traditional practices. Each culture has its own values, beliefs and practices related to pregnancy and birth (Osailan,1). In the United States, after a short hospital stay, moms and babies are sent home because it is expected for mothers to heal within 42 days after giving birth. Whereas in other societies like Mexico, the postpartum recovery is active long enough until the new mother is fully healed (Brenhouse). In the article, “Why Are America’s Postpartum Practices So Rough on New Mothers?” by Hilary Brenhouse, the author states, “With these rituals comes an acknowledgment, familial and federal, that the woman needs relief more at this time than at any other—especially if she has a career to return to—and that it takes weeks, sometimes months, to properly

Postpartum depression in a common experience for newer mothers to have after childbirth. It is meant to last only a few days but can extend for a few months if it is severe. It is thought that it is caused by extreme hormonal shifts in the body after childbirth. If not treated in time, it has a potential chance harm the mother or the child. It is important that the mother feels appreciated and respected during this time. This article will help by giving further information in postpartum depression and further help the claims of how gender roles can further depression.

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.

The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 20 people suffer from depression (2014). Although widely recognized and somewhat easy to diagnose, depression is an ignored and almost hidden, disease. In women, the statistics are especially grim for those who are pregnant or were recently pregnant. A great number of women suffer from postpartum depression; an illness which is often overlooked, misdiagnosed and untreated. Postpartum depression (PPD) has been defined as an emotional disorder that occurs in an estimated 10-15% of all women after childbirth (Liberto, 2010). Postpartum depression not only impacts the mother, but can cause long-term psychological challenges for the baby and create emotional turmoil for all family members.

70 to 80 percent of women who have given birth experience what is know as “Baby blues,” (Piotrowski & Benson, 2015). These are mild symptoms of depression and usually go away within two weeks after giving birth. However, the symptoms of unspecified depressive disorder with peripartum onset also known as postpartum depression (PPD) can be more intense and last significantly longer than the “baby blues.” According to the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association [APA] 2013), postpartum depression occurs during pregnancy or in the 4 weeks following delivery. Postpartum depression has symptoms that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in the new mothers life and can include the inability to take care of the newborn or herself. The

According to two recent studies, 7-13% of all postpartum women suffer from depression. Even more alarming, the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in mothers who have pre-term infants rises to 30-40% according to a recent review (Robertson E, Grace S, Wallington T, Stewart DE., 2004; Schmied V, Johnson M, Naidoo N, et al., 2013). Mood and anxiety disorders, specifically PPD, are severe, yet common complications in women of reproductive age. Undertreated depression in postpartum women is associated with health risks for both the mother and infant, making the goal of euthymia a top priority in the care of postpartum women. Current practice regarding PPD focuses on the triad approach of early detection and prevention, the use of pharmacotherapy, and the use of psychotherapy. However, the treatment of mental illness during pregnancy requires weighing the benefits of pharmacological treatment for the mother, to the risk of the medications on the growth and development of the fetus as well as the theoretical risks associated with undertreated depression. However, many studies are showing that the risks of postpartum depression to both the mother and infant significantly outweigh the risks of pharmacological treatment during pregnancy. Also, due to the ethical issues surrounding trials of pharmacotherapy during pregnancy, further research to determine evidenced-based methods of treatment are still necessary. The most important intervention to date is a

These instances of postpartum depression provide evidence of the serious nature of postpartum depression, which affects the woman’s behavioral and psychological conditions after the birth. More so, previous histories of abuse to the mother can greatly magnify postpartum depression, which can result in the abuse of the child. Also, the factors of economic and social factors may also place undue pressure on the mother during the postpartum period, which increase the potential for child abuse during this vulnerable period of time. These are important circumstances that need to be taken into account when evaluating the potential for child abuse during the postpartum period.

In order to fully understand the narrator’s condition, it is essential to fully understand who she is, what her context is, and the mental disorder she is suffering from. Through her secret diary, we learn about the narrator’s experiences as a newlywed suffering from Postpartum Depression and the unhelpful advice of her husband John, who doubles as her doctor. The mental disorder the narrator is dealing with is called Postpartum Depression; a mental illness affecting 1 in 7 women in the United States alone, causing symptoms such as anxiety, excessive crying, changes in appetite, harmful or “scary thoughts,” and many more of the unusual actions portrayed by the narrator in her journal (“Postpartum Depression”). These symptoms are evident

Borra, C., Iacovou, M., & Sevilla, A. (2015). New Evidence on Breastfeeding and Postpartum Depression: The Importance of Understanding Women 's Intentions. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 19(4), 897-907. doi:10.1007/s10995-014-1591-z

According to authors Susan Dowd Stone and Alexis E. Menken postpartum depression can start during pregnancy which is called perinatal disorder (2008). During pregnancy, women can suffer through mood disorders which are a leading cause of postpartum depression. Women who are screened and diagnosed for depression are most likely to have postpartum depression. Doctors know to keep a close watch on these women who are found positive for depression. After giving birth, the woman will develop postpartum depression; this can lead to postpartum psychosis when women do not receive the help that they need. There are women known to have killed their children due to having postpartum depression or

Depression, a disorder of the brain, is known to be a common but serious illness that interferes with one’s life. Although MRI scans have shown a difference in the brain activity of individuals suffering depression, it cannot solely be used to diagnose depression. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) states that “with postpartum onset” to episode of depression with the onset being within 4 weeks of delivery of a neonate. (O’Hara and McCabe, 2013). Depression can be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors but can also occur in people without any family history (NIMH, 2016). Many people with depression do not seek help either because they are depressed or they do not want to be categorized as having depression.

Postpartum depression is more serious than postpartum blues and occurs in about 10 to 20 percent of new mothers, and is detected anywhere between the first three and six months after the birth of the child, but may not affect the mother until up to a year after the child is born. Symptoms of this condition include: sadness, loss of interest in normal activities, guilt, anxiety, tiredness, feeling like you"re not good enough, impaired concentration or memory, over concern for the baby or none at all, inability to cope, despondency or despair, hopelessness, panic attacks, thoughts of suicide, bizarre or strange thoughts, or feeling " 'like you are going crazy.""(www.chss.iup.edu).

Postpartum depression affects about 13% of new mothers within the first year after childbirth (Marrs, 2013). Every year there are nearly 4 million births and approximately 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression (“Postpartum Depression-ACOG”, 2013). When a woman is screened for PPD, they are typically evaluated after giving birth and approximately 4-6 weeks after delivery. Screening can include the use of Postnatal questionnaires to determine the severity of the depression and the treatment if needed. The treatment can range from the use of antidepressants to the use of therapy to help manage and improve PPD. Many women choose not to use antidepressants due to concerns of breastfeeding and the potential harm to the child and would prefer to use therapy (Scope, 2012, p. 1910). In using therapy, the standard form had previously been on a one-to-one basis with a therapist or psychiatrist. Women found that speaking in confidence allowed them to open up about their feelings without any judgment (Scope, 2012, p. 1914). In contrast, other studies have shown that more women find that doing group therapy is more beneficial and feel that individual therapy can create feelings of self-isolation which adversely leads to a reduction in compliance with following through with continued therapy sessions (Scope, 2012, p.1914). Recently, the use of a method called cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and online therapy, have allowed women to discuss their PPD and find

A rare case, but experienced by many innocent women, is the murderous intentions of severe Postpartum depression and how it has affected mothers, and innocent children. During pregnancy, women go through numerous hormonal changes and imbalances that change their state of mind and mood. It’s obvious that pregnant women are very hormonal, but during labor, those hormone levels increase significantly. Many times for first time mothers, this results in; lack of confidence, feelings of guilt, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, fatigue, and hallucinations. Often times, these hallucinations and feelings of guilt will lead a mother to kill her own child. There has been situations when a mother wants to commit suicide, so she kills her baby first. She kills

Hello, Muna thank you for your post. I am glad to hear that you experienced minimal medical problems while pregnant. However, you and I both were surprised to read the effects of inadequate nutrition while pregnant. Likewise, we learned specific cheeses and dairy products to avoid during pregnancy. According to the National Honor Society (NHS), pregnant women should avoid soft cheeses because they often contain listeriosis. The term Listeriosis occurs when foods eaten become contaminated with bacteria. However, it safe to eat hard cheeses made from pasteurized milk. In the article titled “Listeria and Pregnancy” at American pregnancy.org, it shares a pregnant woman infected with Listeriosis may experience flu-like symptoms (headaches, nausea, and vomiting). However, during the third trimester of pregnancy, the immune system is suppressed. Therefore, the best way to determine if a pregnant woman is ill from listeriosis is to take a blood test (NHS).