Pharmacological Intervention In Nursing

Postpartum depression can have serious consequences for the health of both mother and child. Indeed, a recent study of 10, 000 postpartum women found 19.3% of women with postpartum depression had considered hurting themselves (5). In the United Kingdom suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the postpartum period (6). Even in less severe cases, postpartum depression may compromise caregiving practices (e.g., are less likely to use car seats, breastfeed, or ensure that their child receives up to date vaccinations); (7;8) and maternal-infant bonding (e.g., are less responsive to their infants, engage in less face-to-face interactive play and participate in fewer enrichment activities); (7;9;10). These factors may be partly responsible for delayed cognitive, intellectual, social, and emotional development of the child (11-15). Given the negative consequences of postpartum depression, prevention and treatment is imperative.

In the 2006 book Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders: A Clinician’s Guide authored by Beck and Driscoll, states certain risk factors such as socioeconomic status, ethnicity, education level and self-esteem can also play a role in the development of this depression.

Postpartum psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, has become the most underdiagnosed complication in the United States. It can lead to increased costs of medical care, inappropriate medical care, child abuse and neglect, discontinuation of breastfeeding, and family dysfunction and adversely affects early brain development (Earls, 2010). Over 400,000 infants are born to mothers that are depressed. One of 7 new mothers (14.5%) experience depressive episodes that impair maternal role function. An episode of major or minor depression that occurs during pregnancy or the first 12 months after birth is called perinatal or postpartum depression (Wisner, Chambers & Sit, 2006). Mothers with postpartum depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that may make it difficult for them to complete daily care activities for themselves or for others (Postpartum Depression). The six stages of postpartum are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance and PTSD. These stages may affect any women regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or economic status. However only a physician can diagnose a woman with postpartum depression. It does not occur because of something a mother does or does not do, it’s a combination of physical and emotional factors. After childbirth, the levels of hormones in a woman’s body quickly drop; which may lead to chemical changes in her brain (Postpartum Depression). Unbalanced hormones may trigger mood swings.

Postpartum depression, which is the most prevalent of all maternal depressive disorders, is said to be the hidden epidemic of the 21st century. (1) Despite its high prevalence rate of 10-15% and increased incidence, postpartum depression often goes undetected, and thus untreated. (2) Nearly 50% of postpartum depression cases are untreated. As a result, these cases are put at a high risk of being exposed to the severe and progressive nature of their depressive disorder. (3) In other words, the health conditions of untreated postpartum depression cases worsen and progress to one of their utmost stages, and they are: postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder, postpartum panic disorder, postpartum post traumatic stress, and postpartum psychosis.

The birthing process generally leaves women with overwhelming joy and happiness. However, some women do experience a period of postpartum blues lasting for a few days or at most a couple of weeks but goes away with the adjustment of having a baby (Postpartum Depression, 2013). A condition called Postpartum Depression Disorder (PPD) leaves a dark gray cloud over 10-20% of woman after birth that is recognized in individuals 3 weeks to a year after the delivery of their baby (Bobo & Yawn, 2014). PPD leaves new mothers feeling lonely, anxious, and hopeless (Bobo at el, 2014). Postpartum Depression is a cross cutting disorder that can affect any woman after the delivery of a baby regardless of race, socioeconomic status, age, or education level (Postpartum Depression, 2013). Although this disorder affects more than 10% of women the article Concise Review for Physicians and Other Clinicians: Postpartum Depression reports that less than half of women with PPD are actually diagnosed with this condition (Bobo at el, 2014). It is important that postpartum women and their support systems receive education on what PPD consist of and ways to recognize the signs and symptoms of PPD so that a diagnosis is not overlooked. Early diagnosis is important because early recognition and treatment of the disorder yields for better results when treating individuals with PPD. In this paper I will deliver information about PPD based on recent literature,

Despite the physical changes that a woman is to expect during her pregnancy, a major concern that requires attention is a period of expected feelings of depression that a woman may encounter known as baby blues. Although normal, and expected baby blues can lead into post partum depression that involves a myriad of emotions and mood swings. If not addressed postpartum depression can lead to a more severe form of baby blues known in the clinical world as postpartum non-psychotic depression that requires professional intervention. The therapeutic goal during this time is to prevent the new mother from committing suicide where she poses a danger to both herself and her newborn.

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.

There is need for people to understand what postpartum depression is and learn how to deal efficiently and effectively with it. According to the national health science (NHS), postpartum depression is defined as a depression that normally occurs after childbirth. To help deal with this issue, a lot of investment has been made for public sensitization on how to handle the issue. However, this effort of public sensitization may yield little results because many people view this problem as a problem of others. This literature review therefore focused on trying to understand the various issues surrounding or leading to postpartum depression and the effects that it has on family experience, starting from the mother, the child, the father and the whole society in general. The study was majorly centered on trying to understand to what extent the depression either directly or indirectly affects the mother, the father and the whole society, in general. The objective of this literature review was to examine and decode a considerable number of relevant articles that had researched and arrived at conclusions that related to postpartum depression. After rigorous review of the literature, it was found out that postpartum depression had a direct effect on the family experience. The findings show how exactly postpartum depression affects the mother, the father/family, the child and the whole society in general. This

If left untreated, postpartum depression can interfere with parents-child attachment and cause family problems later on in life. For mothers, untreated postpartum depression can last for months or up to years, sometimes becoming a chronic depressive disorder. Even when treated, postpartum depression increases a woman 's risk of future episodes of major depression. For fathers, postpartum depression can have a ripple effect, causing emotional damage for everyone close to a new baby. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff, “When a new mother is depressed, the risk of depression in the baby 's father may also increase”. New dads are already at a highly risk of depression, whether or not the mother is affected. Children of parents who have untreated postpartum depression are most likely to have emotional and behavior problems, such as sleeping and eating disorders, excessive crying, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). And will also delay in language development.

Postpartum Depression is undermined as “post-baby blues”, but it’s much more complex than just sadness. Mothers cannot sleep, eat, or enjoy their lives as they did before. They are constantly paranoid as to if the baby is alright, or may completely separate themselves from their newborn child. There are many risks for Postpartum Depression, which include a history of depression, inadequate support in caring for the newborn, financial or marital stress, complications during pregnancy, a major life even, mothers of multiple children, women with diabetes, etc.

Only in recent history have significant strides been made to understand and treat postpartum depression. While the psychiatric disorder was written as long ago as 700 BC, by Hippocrates, it was not officially recognized as a medical diagnosis until the nineteenth century. Even in today’s society, individuals tend to harbor ill feelings toward postpartum depression, likely due to cultural beliefs and miseducation. According to the U.S National library of medicine postpartum depression is “moderate to severe depression in a woman after she has given birth, occurring soon after delivery or up to a year later”, (U.S National Library of Medicine, 2014). Women have been most widely identified as being impacted by postpartum depression, and for decades, research has focused on them, with limited data related to males. However, recent studies focusing on male postpartum depression, not only prove that men are affected by the disorder; potentially to the same extent as women, but also suggest that there is a likely correlation between either parent having the condition, and it consequently affecting both parents. Recent studies have found that, “prenatal and postpartum depression was evident in about 10% of men in the reviewed studies and was relatively higher in the 3- to 6-month postpartum period. Paternal depression also showed a moderate positive correlation with maternal depression” (Paulson and Bazemore, 2010, p. 1961). Given this

Pregnancy and birth are both major changes in the lives of women everywhere. These events can be overwhelming, and can lead many women to experience feelings of depression, which can result in postpartum depression, a serious condition that can adversely affect the health of mother and child. The following PowerPoint aims to help educate women on the symptoms and causes of postpartum depression, and how to differentiate it from the normal feelings that can occur with childbirth. Finally, it seeks to provide resources to women for diagnosis, treatment, and support.

After delivering a baby, some women experience symptoms of postpartum depression. There are three levels of postpartum depression: baby blues, postpartum depression, and psychosis. Symptoms include feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, fatigue, and a lack of motivation to do pleasurable things. For women with the second level, the disorder interferes with their ability to function. On the extreme end, psychosis, women experience confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, and thoughts of hurting themselves or their baby. Postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 women. It’s medical risk factors include underperforming thyroid, hormone imbalance, and low levels of serotonin. It 's psychological risk factors include a history of depression, stress, fatigue, and a lack of support. Generally, women with the disorder are treated with antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. However, one case study found that mommy-and-me classes and a strong support system helped treat the disorder. Moreover, a recent study found that exercise can be used to treat postpartum depression and fatigue.

It is important to note that the determination for women at risk of Postpartum Depression is very difficult to define. However different meta-analyses have shown that there are mild or even strong associations between certain risk factors and women with Postpartum Depression (Kettunen et al. 2014). Such risk factors are a history of depression, stressful and traumatic life events, poor marital relationships and poor social support. Interestingly, some stressful life events such as an unplanned pregnancy and difficult child temperaments are not as strongly associated with postpartum.

This proposal will outline the plan for research of postpartum depression in new mothers, its complications, current treatments, and new treatments. Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that occurs in women within the first 12 months after giving birth. In the past many women confused “baby blues” which consists of mood swings, frequent crying spells, irritability, anger, loss of sleep, and loss of appetite with postpartum depression. The major difference between the two is the duration of time and severity of symptoms. Baby blues last for at least two weeks after birth while postpartum lasts for several weeks with much severe symptoms. More women are being diagnosed with postpartum each year than any other major disease. The only treatment