Post Partum Period

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).

Davidson stated in her 2012 book A Nurse’s Guide to Women’s Mental Health that “It is estimated that 50-80 percent of women suffers from some form of baby blues after birth”. (pg.175)

Emotions rise during prenatal and postpartum period. Emotion can be manifested by frequent changes of emotional state, and some women may develop postpartum

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.

(4) As the small number of affected cases implies, postpartum psychosis is extremely rare and adverse. Also, it is marked by a group of psychotic symptoms such as intense emotional instability, severe confusion, unfathomable speech, unexplainable behaviors, and a combination of extreme hallucinations and delusions. In spite of postpartum psychosis severity, cases recover from it remarkably due to a number of effective treatments such antidepressants and mood stabilizers.

According to Dupey “postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis are two separate conditions. Postpartum depression the mom knows that she is struggling but does not lose touch with reality. With postpartum psychosis the mom is dealing with anxiety, depression, and a complete break from reality. Knowing the difference between the two is important that family and providers recognize the difference (2014, para.12)”. When doctors do not recognize the difference and is treating the new mom for postpartum depression instead of psychosis, the end results can be harmful for the mother. The rate of mothers harming their children or commit suicide has increased over time. More states would benefit to have more faculties that deal with women

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.

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.

Depression is a major public health problem that is twice as common in women as men during the childbearing years. Postpartum depression is defined as an episode of non-psychotic depression according to standardized diagnostic criteria with onset within 1 year of childbirth (Stewart D., et. al, 2003, p. 4). For women aged 15 to 44 years around the world, Postpartum Depression is second to HIV/AIDS, in terms of total disability (World Health Organization, 2001). Depression has a profound impact on parameters of interpersonal behavior. Post-Partum depression

Postpartum depression: What is it, how long does it last, and does it affect children on the long run? Postpartum depression is a depression that affects woman usually during the first months after giving birth. Postpartum depression affects 1 in 5 woman. It can also affect fathers. In most cases, postpartum depression can last many years. There are 3 types of postpartum psychiatric disorders: postpartum blues, postpartum psychosis and postpartum depression. According to Health Facty, there are 10 symptoms of postpartum depression; sadness, mood swings, feeling overwhelmed, crying spells, problems with memory and concentration, change in sleep cycle, altered patterns of eating, loss of libido, social withdrawal, and an enduring sense of

Having a baby should be one of the happiest times of a woman’s life. For some women it can be a really bitter sweet experience. The “baby blues” are common amongst new moms, as many as 80 percent of women experience them (Comer, 2014, pg195). Women can also experience a more serious form of depression after giving birth call postpartum depression. In the readings this week there was a side article about Andrea Yates and how her postpartum psychosis led her to do the unthinkable to her five children. Postpartum psychosis affects about 1 in 2 of every 1,000 mothers to have given birth Comer, 2014, pg373). The reason for postpartum psychosis is triggered by a huge shift in hormone levels that occur after delivery (Comer, 2014, pg373). Having

Mothers who have brought into this world a blessing have been preparing themselves for a big change in their life. They have been learning and educating themselves about how to be a good mother. Many mothers find it really hard to transition from being an independent woman without children to becoming a mother (Corrigan, Kwasky, & Groh, 2015). Adapting to motherhood can be a drastic change, and usually creates challenges that lead to feeling overwhelmed (Leger & Letourneau, 2015). When a newly mother begins experiencing stress or becomes emotional then there can be a possibility that they can encounter Postpartum Depression (Leger et al., 2015). Postpartum depression can be seen and experienced in many different ways, it all varies on every mother (Corrigan et al., 2015). Many different mental health issues can be seen including baby blues, postpartum depression, postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the most serious, postpartum psychosis (Tam & Leslie, 2001).

Postpartum mood disorders is defined as a spectrum of illness including postpartum blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. The postpartum blues are extremely common and no specific treatment is usually needed. Postpartum depression is less common and may significantly impact both the health of the mother and baby. Postpartum psychosis is extremely rare with clinical features including mania, psychotic thoughts, severe depression, and other thought disorders, and requires hospitalization. This paper will focus on reviewing and discussing postpartum depression.

After looking into the postpartum hormonal and mental changes in woman I began to wonder about similar impacts in pregnancy. A website called parents.com proved helpful in the defining of hormones and describing the impact that they have.(if using indirect quote put article title or author name at the end) For instance, progesterone is a hormone that develops in pregnant women to relax over muscles and strengthen the immune system to unfamiliar DNA(the fetus) that also causes nausea, vomiting and increased hair growth. Similarly, estrogen prepares a woman for pregnancy by enhancing her uterus and enabling it to respond to oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone that’s levels don’t increase until the end of a pregnancy, when a woman goes into labor

It is very important that postpartum psychosis should be treated effectively and that each patient’s case should be monitored closely because it entails a grave situation which will have serious and adverse results in both the mother and the fetus. Untreated depression during the pregnancy involve a high risk for postpartum psychosis. The fetus may display severe and abnormal responses which may affect its heart activity. Additionally the patient may advance in having obstetric complications such as preterm delivery, potential miscarriage or even low birth weight combined with early gestational age.