Postpartum Depression Case Study

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).

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

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, 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.

Postpartum depression is a type of depression that women can experience after giving birth. It is similar to depression, but women also experience thoughts of harming the baby, feeling disconnected, or in general worry that they are not being a good mother (Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, 2013). When it comes to seeking help for this, most women can feel ashamed of what they are experiencing and may not seek the proper help they need. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on postpartum depression and how it relates to John Bowlby’s theory of attachment. Bowlby’s theory focuses on the attachment being an innate and that mothers and infants need to stay close with one another (McLeod, 2007). As an advanced practice nurse, being able to understand, diagnose and treat women with postpartum depression is important as if diagnosed early, it is a very treatable illness with positive outcomes.

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

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

Ultimately, Charlotte Perkins Gilman incorporates her own personal experiences with postpartum depression into a narrative which shows broad implications of women, how society portrays and treats them in many ways and how those women respond to those treatments.

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

Postpartum depression (PPD) is one type of mood disorders seen in the postpartum period. Other types include postpartum blues and postpartum psychosis. While postpartum blues is common (15-85%) and usually does not require treatment, postpartum psychosis is much rarer (1%). Often postpartum blues is a risk factor for later development of PPD. Incidence of PPD falls between the other two affecting about 15% of new mothers.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mental health disorder that can afflict mothers after birth. It can be triggered by a variety of factors. A lack of support can be associated with PPD and can compromise both the mother and infant (Corrigan, Kwasky, and Groh, 2015). Support can come from different sources such as friends, family, loved ones, community, and even the government. It can also come in many forms like emotional, financial, and even physical. The interventions utilized to prevent PPD in Ms. Doe’s case are mainly focused on educating the patient about postpartum depression and building the patient’s support system. A study by Kim, Connolly, and Tamim (2014) on the effects of social support around pregnancy on postpartum depression

The birth of a child is thought to be one of the happiest events that can occur in a family (Lowdermilk, Perry, Cashion, & Alden, 2016). Yet, for some the period after childbirth becomes a struggle to survive (Kaakinen, Coehlo, Steele, Tabacco, & Hansen, 2015). It is estimated that 15% of new mothers develop postpartum depression (PPD) (Lowdermilk, 2016). Most feel that PPD only affects the mother. As a result, the consequences to the family have largely been overlooked (Kaakinen et al., 2015). Therefore this paper will explore the effects that postpartum depression (PPD) has on the family and how nursing can promote strategies to improve family health by utilizing the family systems theory.

The Results and Discussion section answered all the questions listed in the Objective. Through various research methods, information about postpartum depression, its symptoms, various treatments, and misconceptions. Postpartum depression is a serious mental illness that without immediate treatment can lead to deadly consequences. I was able to view the case of Andrea Yates, a woman in Houston, Texas who was diagnosed with postpartum depression after giving birth to her third child, but was taken off her medication and this led to her drowning all five of her children in the bathtub. She was later diagnosed with postpartum psychosis after claiming that the devil told her to do it. This is a clear example of what could happen if postpartum depression

I would describe Jane as a wife and mother. Jane is married to John and recently had a child, possible this causing her to suffer symptoms of postpartum depression. 

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).