Postpartum Depression

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).

Thesis: Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can greatly effect new mothers. Knowing how to recognize their symptoms and treating it can greatly increase chances of a healthy, happy living.

Often the time after birth is a filled with joy and happiness due to the arrival of a new baby. However, for some mothers the birth of a baby leads to some complicated feelings that are unexpected. Up to 85% of postpartum woman experience a mild depression called “baby blues” (Lowdermilk, Perry, Cashion, & Alden, 2012). Though baby blues is hard on these mothers, another form of depression, postpartum depression, can be even more debilitating to postpartum woman. Postpartum depression affects about 15% (Lowdermilk et al., 2012) of postpartum woman. This disorder is not only distressing to the mother but to the whole family unit. This is why it is important for the nurse to not only recognize the signs and symptoms of a mother with postpartum depression, but also hopefully provide preventative care for the benefit of everyone involved.

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,

As mental health in America is finally being addressed and more research is seen, it is important to look at the potential causes or correlations that lead to common diagnoses for patients. According to Brummelte and Galea (2010), “depression affects approximately 1 in 5 people, with the incidence being 2-3x higher in women than in men.” Postpartum depression (PPD), a subset of this debilitating disease, has an estimated prevalence rate of 13-19% with another estimated 50% that are undiagnosed (O’hara and McCabe, 2013). As a whole, it has the same symptoms as major depressive disorder but diagnosis occurs within 0-4 weeks of giving birth (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Part of this lack of diagnosis is due to a multitude of healthcare

In the United States, as well as many other countries and cultures, postpartum depression is prevalent, but many times overlooked or not diagnosed. Postpartum depression is a “mood disorder that occurs with alarming frequency with documented prevalence of 10% to 15% during the first 3 months after delivery” (Horowitz, et. al, 2013, p. 287). Throughout hospitals, nurses are being educated about postpartum depression, which allows them to educate patients on what postpartum depression is and how to recognize the signs. If unrecognized and left untreated, women are at an increased risk of future depressive episodes and functional impairment (Katon et. al, 2014). There are many initiatives in place to increase the amount of screening and education that is occurring for postpartum depression.

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

Postnatal depression (PND) is an isolating and debilitating mental health disorder that effects an estimated 13-15% of new mothers within one year post-delivery (CDC, 2008; Gaynes et al., 2005). PND can be experienced as a vast array of symptoms such as anhedonia, excessive crying, mixed anxious mood, sleep disturbance, and even suicidality (Kantrowitz-Gordon, 2013). Further, mothers with PND typically report difficulty bonding with their infant and a reduced ability to express love and warmth (Letourneau et al., 2012; Paulson, Dauber & Leiferman, 2006). Occasionally, the mother has thoughts and images associated with hurting herself or her baby (NEED REFERENCE).

The research problem the researchers are purposing is that there is a need to find acceptable and efficient treatments to prevent the long-term effects of postpartum depression (PPD) in mother-child interaction and the development of the child. This study is essential to nursing because it is nurses that may initially detect PPD in postpartum patients, as well, early detection is crucial to get treatment right away. The nurse can play a significant role in ensuring that his or her patient receives proper treatment.

The problem this article looks at is postpartum depression, specifically with first-time mothers at risk. First time mothers may have a greater risk because of their expectations coupled with lack of experience. First time mothers also may have a “Super Mom” attitude toward motherhood and may not ask for or admit to needing help, they will try to do it all. Many women suffer from postpartum depression after the birth of a child. Postpartum depression is a serious medical condition which can stem from hormonal changes, the psychological adjustment to motherhood, fatigue, as well as a host of other factors.

Post Natal Depression (PND) is prolonged symptom of depression in women lasting more than a week or two after giving birth; it impedes with the mother’s ability to cope and function on a daily basis with normal routines including caring for the new baby. PND is common and affects 7% to 20% of women immediately after child birth. According to Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia [PANDA] (2012),

Postpartum depression is a serious maternal mental health issue that negatively impacts new mothers, their infants, and family (Leger & Letourneau, 2015). Maternal depression causes difficulties in feeding, sleeping, and long episodes of crying in the baby. It can also impact the child’s cognitive, social and behavioral development (Baldwin & Kelly, 2015).

The effects of Postpartum Depression has been proven to have long-term effects on both the mother and her child. Therefore, it is vital that a woman who believes that she may be affected by PPD be evaluated as soon as possible to allow for proper diagnoses and treatment from her provider. As with many other conditions it is important for these mothers to have support system that helps encourage them to be the best parent possible. With both awareness and proper treatment mothers can experience a stronger bond with their children that will help allow them to

Are there identifiable factors that put women at risk for the development of postpartum depression? Predictors of Postpartum Depression, a study performed between January 2004 and June 2011 at the University Obstetric Clinic attempted to examine a wide range of factors that could put women at risk for the development of PPD. Those factors included socio-demographics, risky health behaviors, history of depression, and medical illness prior to pregnancy, as well as, antenatal issues, and birth outcomes (Kalton, 2014). Postpartum depression has often been described as the “baby blues”. It is common for women to experience some feelings of being sad, anxious, worried, overly tired, tearful, sad, stressed, and or just overwhelmed after the birth of their baby. However postpartum depression is much more than “baby blues”. An estimated 1 out of 7 women in America experience some form of postpartum depression (American Psychological Association, 2017). Postpartum depression is a disorder that can affect women after childbirth. Mothers with postpartum depression have difficulties completing activities of daily living due to exhaustion and sleep deprivation. They experience intense sadness, and anxiety for no apparent reason. This can have negative consequences for mother and baby by affecting bonding, in turn causing eating, sleeping, and behavior issues for the baby as it grows (National Institute of Mental Health, 2016).