Effects of Postpartum Depression on Child Bearing and Rearing Family 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. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the effects of PPD in terms of its significance to the health of the family. The scope of this paper will discuss the relation of PPD on child development, children-parent attachment and marital dysfunction. Then, two determinants of health and their relevance to the health issue and, strategies that could be used to promote the health of the family will be discussed. Many factors concerning PPD correlates to child development, two interconnected factors mainly concerning PPD and child development are caregiving and attachment. First, PPD is a health concern for child rearing family because it affects child development adversely. Depressive symptoms such as sadness, pessimism and irritability are the primary negative factors affecting child care. As stated by Stein, Malmberg, Sylva, Barnes & Leach (2008), PPD’s adverse effects to child development are primarily due to poor care giving or negligence. In fact, it is clinically proven that, “children of depressed mothers have increased levels of internalizing and ... ... middle of paper ... ...or women with postpartum depression. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(6), 1317-1327. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05263.x Barnes, D. (2006). POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION: ITS IMPACT ON COUPLES AND MARITAL SATISFACTION. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 25(3), 25-42. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Gao, W., Paterson, J., Abbott, M., Carter, S., & Iusitini, L. (2007). Maternal mental health and child behaviour problems at 2 years: findings from the Pacific Islands Families Study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41(11), 885-895. doi:10.1080/00048670701634929 Stein, A. A., Malmberg, L. E., Sylva, K. K., Barnes, J. J., & Leach, P. P. (2008). The influence of maternal depression, caregiving, and socioeconomic status in the post-natal year on children's language development. Child: Care, Health & Development, 34(5), 603-612. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2214.2008.00837.x
Knowing the symptoms of postpartum depression is critical for a young mother's discovering that she may have the depress...
Pregnancies are often correlated with the assumption that it will bring happiness to the household and ignite feelings of love between the couple. What remains invisible is how the new responsibilities of caring and communicating with the baby affects the mother; and thus, many women experience a temporary clinical depression after giving birth which is called postpartum depression (commonly known as postnatal depression) (Aktaş & Terzioğlu, 2013).
Having a child can be the happiest moment of a person’s life. A sweet little baby usually gives new parents tremendous joy. That joy can be accompanied with anxiety about the baby and the responsibility the new parents are faced with. The anxiety, in most cases, fades and joy is what remains. For some new mothers, however, the joy is replaced with a condition known as postpartum depression. “Postpartum depression is a serious disorder that until recently was not discussed in public…Women did not recognize their symptoms as those of depression, nor did they discuss their thoughts and fears regarding their symptoms” (Wolf, 2010). As such, postpartum depression is now recognized as a disorder harmful to both mother and infant, but, with early detection, is highly treatable with the use of psychotherapy, antidepressants, breastfeeding, and other natural remedies, including exercise.
Markham, J. A., & Koenig, J. I. (2011). Prenatal stress: Role in psychotic and depressive diseases. Psychopharmacology, 214(1), 89-106.
Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a period of depression that follows childbirth and lasts more than two weeks. It is experienced by up to 15% of women in the first three postpartum months (Camp, 2013). PPD is well represented in all ages, races, and cultures. The causes of PPD are currently unknown. There are many factors that place patients at a higher risk of developing PPD. These factors include history of PPD, depression during pregnancy, family strains, anxiety, and lack of support.
Parent and dedicated caregivers can affect positively or negatively the child physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. Because good parenting also help protect the brain from potential damage by helping in the regulation of excessive and inadequate stress-hormone exposure (Berk, 2010). Additionally a good mental health in a developing child is a result of the quality of care received fro...
Siegel, L.J., Brown, P., & Hoffman, R. (2013).CRIM 2nd edition. Toronto, Canada: Nelson Publishers. pp. 203-205
After giving birth, women will have hormonal oscillations (Rosequist). In the meanwhile, their bodies are getting back to their normal state, however if that “blues” does not go away, it can evolve in a deep depression. As she recalls, saying: “And yet I cannot be with him, it make me so nervous”(Gilman), it is obvious that Post-Partum depression is the cause of her poor attachment with the child; the mother can be hazardous to the baby; mood swing occur, and in extremes circumstances, about 1 in 1,000, it can bring psychotic indications (Hilts). If this condition if left untreated, it can cause serious psychological and physical damages. Treatment would include anti-depressants and therapy. This can also trigger other types of mental
Roca, Catherine. "Depression During and After Pregnancy." April 2005. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Online. http://www.4woman.gov/faq/postpartum.htm. (17 Nov. 2005)
My mother was diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD), also referred to as postnatal depression. This is a type of clinical depression which can affect women after childbirth. The cause of PPD is not well understood but hormonal changes, genetics, and major life event have been hypothesized as potential causes. Maternal depression has been shown to influence mothers’ interaction with her child, therefore the doctor thought it was necessary for further treatment. Many women recover with treatment such as a support group, counseling, or
Rosser, J, Lynch, P., Cuddihy, L., Gentile, D., Klonsky, J., & Merrel, R. (2007). The impact of
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Kaplan, P. S., Bachorowski, J., Smoski, M. J., & Hudenko, W. J. (2002). Infants of depressed mothers, although competent learners, fail to learn in response to their own mothers' infant-directed speech. Psychological Science, 13(3), 268-271.
Studies show that, “A low level of paternal involvement in infant care was significantly associated with PPD” (Sejourne, Vaslot, Beaume, Goutaudier and Chabrol). This shows that having a husband and father home with the baby and wife can reduce anxiety, for the family and most importantly the mother. After the birth the mother is undoubtedly exhausted. Having her husband around for physical and mental support can relieve her PPD. Men who take off for paternity leave and are home with their wife and baby can positively impact the child and the mother’s depression.