FATHER SATURNINO URIOS UNIVERSITY

San Francisco St. Butuan City 8600, Region XIII

Caraga, Philippines
Nursing Program

EVIDENCE-BASED READING NO. 1

Title/ Topic
Postpartum Depression

Research Findings

This article stated that the birth of a child can elicit a wide range of strong emotions, from joy and
excitement to dread and anxiety. Childbirth is a demanding and tiring experience. During pregnancy, a woman goes
through a variety of hormonal, physical, emotional, and psychological changes. The mother's familial and
interpersonal worlds undergo significant alterations. A mother may experience a range of emotions after giving
birth, from excitement and pleasure to grief and weeping fits. After childbirth, most new mothers have postpartum
"baby blues," which include mood changes, crying episodes, anxiety, and problems sleeping and they usually subside
within the first two weeks after delivery. However, some new mothers suffer with postpartum depression, which is
a more severe and long-lasting form of depression. During postpartum, an intense mental illness known as
postpartum psychosis may occur. Postpartum depression is not a shortcoming or a weakness in anyone's character.
If you suffer postpartum depression, getting help as soon as possible will help you manage your symptoms and bond
with your baby. Moreover, symptoms of depression after childbirth manifests itself in a variety of ways, ranging
from moderate to severe. To start with the signs and symptoms of baby blues — which last only a few days to a
week or two after your baby is born — may include: postpartum depression may be mistaken for baby blues at first
— but the signs and symptoms are more intense and last longer, and may eventually interfere with your ability to
care for your baby and handle other daily tasks. Postpartum depression signs and symptoms may include depressed
mood or severe mood swings, loss of appetite or eating much more than usual untreated, and it may last for many
months or longer. For postpartum psychosis — a rare condition that typically develops within the first week after
delivery — the signs and symptoms are severe. New fathers can experience postpartum depression, too. They may
feel sad or fatigued, be overwhelmed, experience anxiety, or have changes in their usual eating and sleeping
patterns ― the same symptoms mothers with postpartum depression experience. If you are a new father and are
experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety during your partner's pregnancy or in the first year after your
child's birth, talk to your health care professional. Nevertheless, if you are experiencing any of the signs of
postpartum baby blues or postpartum depression, you should contact your doctor and make an appointment. If you
have any of the following signs and symptoms of depression, call your doctor as soon as possible: If you have any
thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, immediately seek help from your partner or loved ones in caring for your
baby and dial 911 or your local emergency assistance number for assistance. If you feel a friend or loved one is
suffering from postpartum depression or is developing postpartum psychosis, assist them in seeking medical care as
soon as possible. In addition, postpartum depression has no single cause, but physical and mental factors may play a
role. In terms of physical changes are taking place. A substantial decline in hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in
the body after childbirth may lead to postpartum depression. Other hormones generated by the thyroid gland may
also decline dramatically, leaving you weary, sluggish, and sad. While emotional problems on the other hand is that
when you're sleep deprived and overloaded, even simple issues can be difficult to handle. You might be worried
about being able to care for a newborn. You might be less beautiful, have identity issues, or feel like you have lost
control of your life. This type of depression can indeed be caused by any of these factors. Hence, any new mom can
experience postpartum depression and it can develop after the birth of any child, not just the first. Left untreated,
postpartum depression can interfere with mother-child bonding and cause family problems. Such depression can
have a ripple effect, causing emotional strain for everyone close to a new baby. When a new mother is depressed,
the risk of depression in the baby's father may also increase. Children of mothers who have untreated postpartum
depression are more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems, such as sleeping and eating difficulties,
excessive crying, and delays in language development.

Conclusion
The direct and highlighted outcome of such study is that to prevent this type of illnesses to occur at any
cause. It is stated that if you have a history of depression, particularly postpartum depression, talk to your doctor
before getting pregnant or as soon as you find out you are pregnant, in reason of them can keep a close eye on you
during pregnancy for signs and symptoms of depression. During and after your pregnancy, he or she may ask you to
fill out a depression-screening questionnaire. Mild depression can sometimes be treated with the help of support
groups, counseling, or other therapies. Antidepressants may be prescribed in different conditions, including during
pregnancy. Further, your physician may also prescribe an early postpartum checkup after your baby is born to look
for signs and symptoms of postpartum depression. The sooner it is discovered, the sooner it can be treated. For
instance, if you have a history of postpartum depression, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants or
psychotherapy right after your baby is born.

Analysis

As we all know, this type disease is indeed critical and extraordinary. In terms of acquiring one
while working in the nursing field, a nurse’emotional state can affect how well they perform at work, and
whether how much hard they try to keep up with their job. People who are depressed are more likely to miss days
of work and to lose their jobs than those who are not depressed. They also have a harder time handling their job
responsibilities, research finds. Also, by means of being depressed, they can also become more detached with their
family. They are used to being detached, but they cannot bring it home and cry over people [who] are sick.
Depressed nurses may cry more over a patient who died. They may get very emotional. Overall, based on the
evidence provided, we as health care providers must emphasize the importance of mental health during
pregnancy. Whether mild or not the symptoms are, mental health should be evaluated throughout the
pregnancy. As our knowledge improves, it will be critical to identify the signs, symptoms, and diagnostic
baselines that warrant prenatal intrusion, as well as to develop efficient, effective, and ecologically
relevant screening and intervention procedures that can be used widely. Many believe that if health
difficulties can be identified before to pregnancy and pre-pregnancy therapies can be implemented, this
is our greatest option. Lastly, before birth, the nurse is in a unique position to identify women who are at high
risk for postpartum mood problems. The nurse may notice if the woman has a history of depression or postpartum
blues during the admission. Furthermore, any pregnant woman who experiences depression can be diagnosed.
These mothers require treatment information and support. Some of these women may benefit from a therapist's
consultation, while others may require a referral to a psychiatrist for antidepressant therapy following delivery. In
such situations, both pharmaceutical and nonpharmacological prophylaxis have been utilized with varying degrees
of efficacy. A large body of evidence also shows that postpartum women with depression who are treated have a
much better mother-infant bonding experience than those who do not. More importantly, infants born to
depressed mothers are more likely to develop mood and behavior issues as well as obesity later in life. Despite the
fact that postpartum depression is well-known, many women do not receive therapy because they are simply not
followed after giving birth. As a result, the postpartum visiting nurse's job is crucial.

Reference

Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-
causes/syc-20376617