Recognizing Postpartum Depression for New Moms
Alissa Clark
Denver School of Nursing Lasting Effects of Postpartum Depression on Mom and Baby M.V is 41-year-old G3P3002 having a vaginal delivery of a baby boy. She was alone in her labor and delivery room for the entire length of her stay, and even alone with just the new baby for her postpartum stay. She has a two-year-old daughter and said her new son was unexpected. Her oldest son was murdered at 16 years old, four years ago. At her March 2014 appointment, a urinalysis tested positive for cocaine but then negative in April 2014. M.V claims she quit smoking two weeks ago and continues to take her prescribed Prozac for depression daily. Although this mother expresses changing her habits
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Understanding the signs of postpartum depression can possibly help treat women earlier. There is a 4 time greater chance for mothers who experienced depression during pregnancy to develop postpartum depression (Camp, 2013). Some of the symptoms include loss of appetite, insomnia, agitation, fatigue, thoughts of suicide or infanticide, excessive worry, feeling incompetent, and anxiety (Letourneau et al., 2012). It is very important for these signs to be recognized as soon as possible for treatment. Postpartum “Baby Blues” can occur up to two weeks after having a child, but it progresses to postpartum depression when feelings last longer than two weeks, and anywhere during the child’s first year of life (Camp, 2013). Having any thoughts of harming oneself or an infant requires immediate attention. Women should be instructed to call their provider and make an appointment if signs of postpartum depression occur. At the office, providers use a scale to screen women for postpartum depression. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale reflects the woman’s mood over the past week with scores ranging from 0 to 30 with scores above a 12 is suggestive for signs of postpartum depression in women (Letourneau et al., 2012). The scale should be readily available at any facility. Many nursing lines are available to call to ask for support
Other background information that must be cleared up concerns history of traumas, domestic violence, housing status, primary usage of drugs, mental health problem in family, cases of hospitalization, treatment, previous usage of medication. All these items can influence current client's condition. Despite, as Meredith’s sister Sarah also has some personal problems, it is necessary to find out the origin of it; Sarah might have personal disorder that is inherited, so Meredith is under the risk to have it.
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).
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s story, The Yellow Wallpaper, portrays the life and mind of a woman suffering from post-partum depression in the late eighteenth century. Gilman uses setting to strengthen the impact of her story by allowing the distant country mansion symbolize the loneliness of her narrator, Jane. Gilman also uses flat characters to enhance the depth of Jane’s thoughts; however, Gilman’s use of narrative technique impacts her story the most. In The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses interior monologue to add impact to Jane’s progression into insanity, to add insight into the relationships in the story, and to increase the depth of Jane’s connection with the yellow wallpaper it self.
What would you do if your wife or your relative had postpartum depression after giving birth to her child? Would you try to help her by talking to her, or by taking her to a psychologist, or would you lock her in a house where she has no one to talk to and doesn’t get any professional help? Postpartum depression is a type of depression that occurs within three months following childbirth and symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, marked illogical thought, thinking of suicide, and fear of hurting the baby (Dictionary of Psychology 551). Recent research shows that postpartum depression affects 10 percent of women in the months following the birth of a child (Depression Statistics: Women Fact Information).
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.
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.
Post-partum depression is the feeling of emptiness felt after having a baby. It is an umbrella term that encompasses five related Post-partum disorders that follow child birth. “Baby Blues”, Post-partum panic disorder, Post-partum Obsessive compulsive disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Post-Partum Psychosis. [ explain all 5 related disorders]
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
“Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major form of depression and is less common than postpartum blues. PPD includes all the symptoms of depression but occurs only following childbirth.” stated William Beardslee, MD, is the Academic Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Children’s Hospital in Boston and Gardner Monks Professor of Child Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. After reviewing and seeing what many mothers and young teenage mothers go through on what seems like an everyday basis, one starts to wonder what really goes on behind closed doors with these mothers. What are they really like when it’s just them and their baby?
The reporter stated at this time, Zane’s urine has not been tested and samples of meconium will be sent to lab for testing once it’s collected. At delivery, Ms. Glass did not test positive for any drugs, but during pregnancy she tested positive for marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol. The reporter stated Ms. Glass tested positive on the following dates: 02/02/16, 05/10/16, and 06/21/16. According to the reporter, Zane did not have any complications or adverse side effects at delivery; the child is scheduled for discharge on 07/18/2016. Ms. Humphrey stated Ms. Glass has been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and she reports receiving counseling at Pine Belt Mental Health. The reporter stated Ms. Glass also told staff she’s compliant with her prescribed
As a child growing up, there were times I would feel my mother would be out to just make
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
Depression is defined as being in a state of sadness or unhappiness. Doctors do not know the exact causes of depression, but they believe it’s chemical changes in the brain. All ages, races, and ethnic groups can experience depression. Most people who do experience it need treatment to get better. Many famous women have also battled with depression. Actress Ashley Judd, model Paulina Porizkova, Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, singer and actress Gwyneth Paltrow, and singer and actress Demi Lovato. Demi Lovato had an eating disorder at the age of eight and started cutting at the age of eleven. She was bullied for being ‘fat’ so she used to overeat to cope, which turned into a lifelong struggle with food. In 2010 she had an altercation with one of her background dancers and decided to leave the Jonas Brothers Tour. After that, she decided to check into a mental facility. Today, she still battles with depression, her eating disorder, and alcohol abuse but is learning to get better. Depression is not overrated and should be taken seriously as a mental illness.
The silent killer that takes lives without warning, punishment, or any sympathy; depression is truly one of the most prominent mental illnesses in the world. Depression is defined as a mental illness inducing a severe and staunch feeling of sadness. The term depressed is coined in English as a temporary sadness that everyone experiences in their life. Despite that depression is more active in women, it is still one of the most common mental illnesses in the world. It affects anybody, regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic standing. Regardless of all these facts, surprisingly little is known about depression, however, scientists have been able to hypothesize major causes, effects, and treatments for the disability affecting over