...Paternal Postpartum Depression Introduction Paternal postpartum depression is a concept that has, only recently, gained some recognition within the mental health community and among clinicians. Male depression and sadness are generally taboos cross culturally. Admitting to depressive symptoms may be considered a sign of weakness, carrying shame and degrading self-worth for men. Due to these stigmas, male depression is significantly under reported comparative to female depression. Defining and quantifying patterns of paternal postpartum depression are the foundation for providing support not only for new fathers, but the family unit as a whole. Statistical Analysis of Prevalence Evidence shows that there is a strong correlation between maternal postpartum depression and that in new fathers. According to one study, 24%-50% of men who experience postpartum depression have depressed partners (Melrose, 2010). Similar statistics have been reviewed in the referenced article Paternal postpartum depression: How can nurses begin to help? by Sherri Melrose. Many of these studies discuss the depressive symptoms of mothers and fathers within the first few months of parenthood. Maternal postpartum depression has been recorded in up to 19.7% of mothers within the first month of giving birth, and fathers are found to be at much greater risk in these cases (Melrose, 2010). Although most of the hormonal data related to pre- & post-natal depression are of female subjects, some...
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...Postpartum Depression Anai Pineda March 10, 2014 I. Introduction In this report it is my intention to provide the reader with a better understanding of postpartum depression. To start off, it is necessary to understand that postpartum depression can be divided into three categories: postpartum blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis. A comparison of these three disorders can be seen in figure 2. Some of the characteristics of postpartum depression include a change in appetite, feeling unable to love the baby, or even anger towards the baby. Cases of postpartum depression date back as far as the Middle Ages when “women who exhibited melancholy during or after childbirth were thought to be witches or victims of witchcraft (Sparks).” In today’s modern world we have learned to see past outdated beliefs in witchcraft and that is why “there is a growing movement to integrate mental health screening into routine primary care for pregnant and postpartum women and to follow up this screening with treatment or referral and with follow-up care (O’Hara and McCabe).” II. Disorder and Symptoms Baby blues encompasses the most common symptoms that new mothers may have after the arrival of their baby. These symptoms last only a few days to a couple of weeks and include mood swings, anxiety, sadness, irritability, crying, decreased concentration, and trouble sleeping. Postpartum depression “may appear to be the baby blues at first, but the signs and symptoms are more intense...
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...Traci Thompson Postpartum Depression Postpartum Depression can be a moderate to severe form of depression that begins within three months following childbirth. (Coone and Mitterer, 2013, Ch.14 pg.493) This form of depression can have lasting effects on the family and child. A depressed mother can seriously retard her child’s rate of development (Cooper and Murray 2001). How does postpartum depression differ from “the baby blues”? What are the signs, symptoms, and treatment associated with postpartum depression? What are some of the lasting effects of this disorder? Roughly 13 percent of all women who give birth develop postpartum depression (Coone and Mitterer 2013 Ch. 14 pg. 493). How will this disorder affect the bonding and attachment necessary in the development of the newborn into childhood? The “baby blues” is a condition that is usually experienced by an estimated 25 – 50 percent of all women, (Coone and Mitterer 2013). It is a milder form that lasts 1 – 2 days following childbirth. Signs and symptoms of “baby blues” are similar to that of postpartum depression, such as irritability, difficulty with sleeping, loss of appetite, and trouble concentrating. These can be attributed to natural hormonal changes that occur following childbirth. However, postpartum depression can set in soon after childbirth, or develop gradually over a period of months, and can last longer and symptoms are more severe, in severe cases a mother can become suicidal and...
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...Postpartum Psychosis Motherhood the Sad, the Mad, and the Insane Laurie Hackney Women, Crime, and Criminal Justice Dr. Connolly March 21, 2011 Postpartum Psychosis Motherhood the Sad, the Mad, and the Insane On the heartbreaking morning of June 20, 2001, Andrea Pia Yates was arrested and charged for the filicide of her children. One by one, this seemingly devoted mother of five drowned all of her children in the bathtub of their family home. Singularly, she put her three youngest children to death, taking their bodies from the tub fully clothed and wet, then placed them upon their bed, and covered them up. She proceeding doing the same with her youngest child, but while she was drowning Mary, her oldest son Noah walked in and asked what she was doing before he turned and ran away. She gave chase, caught up with him in the hall, then dragged him back to the bathroom and proceeded to terminate him with Mary dead in tub. Andrea then took Mary and placed her in the arms of the three youngest children leaving Noah behind dead and alone in the bath. Factors Relating to the Incident Being raised a Roman Catholic; Yates converted her religious beliefs to that of her husband’s prior to marriage. In this religion, people are expected to have as many children as nature will allow. Even while Andrea was awaiting trial, it was reported that her husband felt so sure of his wife’s acquittal that he was already speaking about having more children. This notion left the attorneys...
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...post-partum depression, quite possibly a severe case of schizophrenia. While the reader may believe that the confinement was what had driven her into madness, a closer reading shows the narrator is already completely out of her mind and therefore unreliable from the very onset of the story. Right away the narrator tells us that her husband John doesn’t believe she’s sick. He says she has a “temporary nervous depression” and a “slight hysterical tendency.” The first could possible be a symptom of postpartum depression, which according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is defined by intense feelings of sadness, fear, anger, and anxiety that interfere with a new mother’s ability to function normally. If left untreated the condition worsens, but nowhere is there any mention of “hysterics.” If we examine the narrator’s journal entries we can easily see that her behavior is a bit more psychotic, even from the very beginning, than a diagnose of postpartum depression would permit. After the reader is filled in on John’s sentiments about the narrator’s current emotional state, she changes the subject as it appears the discourse of her condition upsets her. She then goes on to describe the strange old house where her and John have taken up residency. She describes the “delicious” gardens with “grape covered arbors,” and the dilapidated greenhouse, but once she begins to describe the house itself, she instantly focuses on their bedroom, and then to...
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...The case study is conducted on Brooke Shield an actress who suffers from postpartum depression, brought on after the birth of her child. Many women suffer from this illness causing them to have difficulties with bonding with their child, which in turn affects their everyday activities. Major DSM IV -TR Postpartum depression is defined as an intense, sustained and sometimes disabling depression effecting women after the birth of a child, causing hardship on families, effecting jobs, relationships. This condition usually starts during pregnancy and last several months after a child has been born. Postpartum depression affects proximally 10-15 % of women. Women who experience this condition normal treatment would consist of medication such as Paxil, Zoloft to help stabilize the disorder. Women who have a family history of mood disorders are at a higher risk. Postpartum depression is recognized through the DSM if signs of depression start to develop prior to the birth of a child. These signs would include depression throughout one’s day, no interest in activities, inability to sleep, weight change, loss of energy, thoughts of suicide, and death. History of Brook Shield Brooke Shields, model, and actress was born in 1965 in New York, after her parents got divorced she stayed with her mother, but her father remained involved in her life. She started her career as a baby that brought her to the center of public attention. Despite her popularity, her mother tried to provide...
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...Prenatal and Postpartum Scenario As your psychologist you are a very important individual to me, not just my patient, so I have taken the time out to create this memorandum in order to address these following subjects: your pregnancy length of six months and suffering from Post-Partum Depression. First let us discuss some activities you will need to focus on during your pregnancy: Get all of your rest: Rest is one of the most important factors during pregnancy because of the consequences that can result from the lack of rest and sleep. Avoid exhausting exercise and get as much sleep as you can. By not sleeping you can affect the fetus’ development and possibly cause a miscarriage to take place. Get all your Nutrients: Make sure to eat well and healthy. Many soon to be mothers do not take into consideration their diets and how much of an impact it will have on your baby. The rights foods and increase the development of your fetus, as the wrong ones or lack of nutrients will danger your baby. Alcoholism’s Don’ts: You are strongly urged to avoid the consumption of alcohol, not only because it’s frowned upon by society, but it can cause major damage to your unborn child. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the result of alcoholism during pregnancy. Your baby can be born with birth defects including abnormalities, halted growth, and retardation. Avoid Teratogens: Teratogens are considered to be “substances such as drugs and pollutants and conditions such as malnutrition...
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...Postpartum Blues vs. Postpartum Depression Having a baby brings lots of emotions including lots of highs and lows, many life changes and physical changes in your body. The changing hormones combined with the stress of caring for a new born affect different people in different ways. ½ to 2/3rds of women experience “Baby Blues” and 10 -15% of women experience postpartum Depression. The chart below will help you understand each and know what to look for and what to do if you think you are experiences either of these. When in doubt always contact your health care provider. | Baby Blues or Postpartum Blues | Postpartum Depression | When Does It Start | The first few days after birth (generally 3rd or 4th day post-delivery) | Anytime up to one year after delivery | How Long Does It Last | From 10 days to several weeks | Lasts longer and is more severe than “baby blues” and needs help from health care provider to resolve | Symptoms | * Mood Changes * Weepiness or sadness * Anxiety * Lack of concentration * Feelings of dependency or inadequacy | * Excessive worrying and anxiety * Irritability * Persistent weepiness or sad mood * Inability to sleep, even when you are exhausted * Difficulty concentrating * Loss of Interest in activities you used to enjoy * Changes in appetite * Thoughts about harming yourself or your baby | Treatment | Talk about it. Take care of yourself by getting rest, support.Usually will resolve with support from friends...
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...Postpartum Hemorrhage Learning Objectives: * Performs a basic physical assessment of the postpartum patient (APPLYING) * Identifies the signs and symptoms of postpartum hemorrhage (REMEMBERING) * Determines the most likely cause of hemorrhage (ANALYZING) * Performs appropriate nursing management interventions for the patient experiencing postpartum hemorrhage (APPLYING) * Evaluates effectiveness of interventions and revises plan of care as indicated according to patient’s condition and assessment (EVALUATING) * Prioritizes the implementation and approach to the nursing care of a patient with post partum hemorrhage when working with other health care team members (ANALYZING) Prep Questions 1. What is the normal location of the fundus two hours post-vaginal delivery? * Immediately after delivery, the uterus is about the size of a large grapefruit and can be palpated midway between the symphysis pubis and umbilicus and in the midline of the abdomen. Within 12 hours the fundus rises to about the level of the umbilicus 2. What assessments are vital for the nurse to perform on the postpartum patient? * Vital signs, skin color, location and firmness of fundus, amount and color of lochia, perineum (edema, episiotomy, lacerations, hematoma), presence degree and location of pain, IV infusion assessments, urinary output, status of abdominal incision and dressing, level of feeling and ability to move if regional anesthesia was used 3. What...
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...Postpartum Depression I always thought that Postpartum Depression was not a real condition, until I had my second son, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was so overwhelming to suddenly realize that this was a very real condition and that it was happening to me. Postpartum Depression is a depressive disorder that can occur any time after your baby is born, up until one year after the birth. It can vary from mild symptoms, to severe symptoms, to suicidal thoughts and actions. It can affect women and men from all walks of life. Postpartum Depression is a very serious condition and should be treated as such. Postpartum Depression can be defined as; postpartum: occurring in or being the period following parturition. Parturition: the action of or process of giving birth to offspring. Depression: a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked esp. by sadness, inactivity, difficulty with thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts or an attempt to commit suicide (Merriam-Webster’s, Merriam-Webster’s Medical Desk Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2005). There are other terms associated with Postpartum Depression. Some people think that Postpartum is the same thing as having the “Baby Blues”, which it is not. The baby blues commonly only last a few days to a few weeks, at most, and are very mild symptoms of crying,...
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...Ebony Nelson Postpartum Psychosis Critical Reasoning Paper February 24, 2015 Postpartum psychosis is a very serious problem for some women. Some women can experience postpartum depression after childbirth which is defined as “depression suffered by a mother following childbirth, typically arising from the combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood, and fatigue.” In most cases postpartum depression subsides without treatment. In a few cases, however, postpartum psychosis can occur by experiencing sudden onset of psychotic symptoms. “Signs and symptoms of PP typically appear soon after childbirth, usually within 2 weeks of delivery, but some women don't experience symptoms until several months later. Although the cause of PP is unknown, signs and symptoms appear to be triggered in high-risk women by the rapid hormonal changes that occur after childbirth” (Rosinger, 2012). “Symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, confusion, extreme agitation, rapid mood swings, and inability to sleep or eat” (Logsdon, 2012). The delusions and hallucinations are perceived as consistent with the mother's reality. She is not distressed by thoughts of harming her infant and can act on these thoughts. Psychotic mothers sometimes believe they need to harm their baby so that they can save the baby. The most significant risk factors for postpartum psychosis are a personal or family history of bipolar disorder, or a previous psychotic episode. For many women with...
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...Postpartum depression, also known as PPD, affects approximately 12 to 20% of women worldwide (Papalia and Feldmen, 219). PPD is described as moderate to severe depression in a female after she has given birth. It may occur soon after delivery or up to a year later, but it usually occurs within the first four months after delivery. People who are most likely to report postpartum depressive symptoms are poorly educated women, young women, women who smoke and/or abuse alcohol and drugs, and unmarried women. There are numerous causes for postpartum depression. It may be bought on by the extreme changes new mothers face when assuming responsibility for a newborn. Another cause may be the high levels of certain hormones in a female’s body that can help prepare her for the stress of childbirth. Diabetic women with a low income are also known to suffer from PPD. Depressed mothers negatively affect children in many ways as well. Thankfully, there are ways of treating postpartum depression, such as medication and therapy. The exact causes of postpartum depression are unknown, but there are plenty of theories. PPD may be bought on by the intense lifestyle and emotional chances women deal with when there is a newborn to take care of. Some females just simply aren’t ready to take care of another human being besides themselves. This fact especially applies to first-time mothers and young women. Hormone levels have been known to change during and after pregnancy, which can affect a woman’s...
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...This assignment will focus on a short communication between myself and a mother (Caroline) whom I had met three times before, at the antenatal, birth, and six-to-eight week contacts. I had cancelled a three-to-four month visit with her that day on the advice of my mentor. Caroline was an experienced mum and the visit had been mainly to aid my development (Appendix One). She had sounded fine on the phone and had told me she was coming into clinic. Borton’s (1970) reflective model will be used to guide this essay, and I will analyse how the experience has improved my skills in building therapeutic relationships, while recognising areas that require work in order to fulfil my role. All names have been changed to protect confidentiality, as is the responsibility of any registered nurse (NMC 2008). Mental and emotional wellbeing in all family members is intrinsic to the wellbeing of children. The “Healthy Child Programme” (DH 2009) identifies the assessment and promotion of this area as a core part of the health visitor’s role. A common mental health problem that impacts on children is post-natal depression, affecting 10-15% of women (Royal College of Psychiatrists n.d.). Infants whose mothers have post-natal depression often have less positive life outcomes, as discussed in Every Child Matters (HM Treasury 2003). It can impact negatively on emotional, social and mental development, often demonstrated through behavioural problems (Wrate et al., 1985), and neurological problems (Dale...
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...The Effects of Postpartum Depression Introduction / Background Postpartum Depression is a common mood disorder that affects ten to twenty percent of women in the United States during pregnancy and after child birth. Depression is a major public health concern that impact more women than men. There are three common categories of post partum depression. The most common and less harmful form of this disorder is known as the baby blues. Onset occurs within three to four days following child birth and usually end within a few hours or three to four days. Thirty to seventy five percent of women experience baby blues. Postpartum Depression affects ten to fifteen percent of women; onset occurs within twelve months of delivery and can last from a...
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...Prenatal and Postpartum Daily Activities Carla Robertson PSY/280 October 20, 2014 Jessica Barch MEMORANDUM TO: Prenatal and Postpartum Women FROM: Developmental Psychologist DATE: October 20, 2014 SUBJECT: Daily Activities CC: Jessica Barch Prenatal and Postpartum Daily Activities Once you become pregnant, your child’s health becomes your number one priority. Your baby’s development is strongly influenced by your health and habits. Positive habits such as diet, exercise, and a stress-free environment all contribute to adequate human development. Delivering a healthy baby while maintaining your health is the goal you want to achieve. By following this list of daily activities, you will be prepared to undergo the life changes that come during pregnancy. Daily Activities 6-Month Pregnant Woman You will see your doctor once a month for prenatal visits. During pregnancy, proper diet and exercise are directly related to how you will feel. You should take 1,000 mcg of folic acid every day. This will help prevent problems with your baby’s brain and spinal cord. Eating a balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your baby. Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, low-fat protein, and fiber. Eat enough calories; this may consist of 300 more than usual. Drink lots or water and get plenty of rest. You can do the same exercises you did before getting pregnant. This helps ease discomfort during pregnancy and can make...
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