Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that begins after childbirth and can last up to a year after delivery. Postpartum depression can affect both sexes; however, it is more common in women than men. Approximately 80% of women will experience some sort of postpartum depression (Nedhari, 2011). Whereas, 14% of men experience depression (Hibbert, 2015). This number is alarmingly high and could pose serious effects on mother, father, and baby. This paper will explore symptoms of postpartum depression, the effects, and how doctors and medical professional can screen for this disorder in hopes of bringing down the number of people affected by this disease.
There are six disorders that have been identified for postpartum. The first is postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder; this happens in about 3% to 5% of women and includes symptoms like repetitive and unrelenting thoughts of harming themselves or their child. The next is postpartum panic disorder; 10% of women will develop this disorder postpartum. Symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, restlessness, numbness and tingling sensation. There is also postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder; generally this is onset if the woman experiences any type of traumatic experience during pregnancy. Symptoms may include anxiety when there are reminders or thoughts of the traumatic experience (Zauderer, 2009)
There are also postpartum depression disorders. The first is the blues; this usually happens one to two weeks after birth and women experience symptoms like crying, anxiety, mood swings, and depression. The next is depression; this is a non-psychotic disorder, the symptoms are usually similar to the blues, but also may include the feeling of guilt or being inadequate and also suicidal thoughts. The final category is psychosis; 2 out of every 1,000 women will experience psychosis. Symptoms usually appear 48-72 hours after birth and include symptoms like delusion, paranoia, hallucinations, and talking to oneself. Those who develop psychosis are more likely to harm their child. There is a 4% infanticide rate in the psychosis phase (Ambrosini, Donzell & Stanghellini, 2012).
Postpartum depression not only affects the mother, but it can affect the father, the baby, and other family members close to the new parents. Postpartum depression can have both short term and long term side effects. Researchers have found that babies of depressed mothers scored the poorest on all outcome measures after nine months (Nauret, 2009). Mothers who suffer from postpartum depression are more likely to discontinue breastfeeding around 4-16 weeks postpartum, which also affects the child because they have difficulty feeding and may not get enough nutrition from the dry formula or the other foods that their mothers provide. Lastly, a mother's postpartum depression can affect the babies sleeping pattern. Babies with mothers who suffered from postpartum ended up crying more and only sleeping on average of 6 hours per night (Field, 2009). All of these factors impact the child's development and increase their stress levels.
On a long term scale, researchers have found that the child(ren) of postpartum parents tend to have delayed psychological, cognitive, neurological, and motor development skills. They are also more likely to have serious emotional problems and poorer mother-child relations. These long term effects may continue up to ages four to eight years old (Gjerdingen & Yawn, 2007).
The partner and/or family member(s) will have an increase in their duties; they may be working more to supplement the loss of income of the mother and they may also be taking on extra duties at home like cleaning, cooking, and caring for the child as the mother works towards treatment and recovery. All of this extra workload may cause stress and anxiety on the partner and/or family member which can lead to them developing depression as well (PANDA, 2015). Unlike the mother, the father/partner, may not experience the emotional symptoms of postpartum depression, they will instead experience symptoms like violent behavior, anger, substance abuse, working more, and impulse behavior (Hibbert, 2015). It is important that the partner and/or family members feel supported as well, because not only is the mother being impacted by this disorder, but everyone around.
There are few traits that researchers have identified in women who are more likely to develop postpartum depression; women who lack confidence, have negative events preceding childbirth, have financial and/or professional difficulties, marital conflict, low socio-economic status, or women who have been previously depressed or have had anxiety (Ambrosini, Donzell & Stanghellini, 2012). There really isn't a set guide of who will be impacted by this disorder. It can trigger any woman or spouse at any time after delivery. So how can medical professionals help with diagnosing and treating postpartum?
This information can be used in the physician's office to help diagnose women early on and help provide adequate treatment. Currently, only 50% of physician's offices are screening women for postpartum depression. There are only two states in the United States that require women to be screened for mental health, Illinois and New Jersey (Gjerdingen & Yawn, 2007). The main reason there is a small number of women being diagnosed and treated is because there is a lack of recognition.
The first thing that physicians can start doing is mental health screening; during pregnancy, 4-6 weeks post-delivery, and at the one year checkup. Another method is to provide education during pregnancy on how childbirth can affect the woman's moods. This will allow the mother and spouse to set expectations and have a guideline on what symptoms to look for postnatal (PANDA, 2015). These methods encourage the mother to take control over her own mental health and not panic if they happen to develop any symptoms of postpartum depression.
There are also other methods that can help a mother recover from postpartum depression if she develops this disorder. A mother can receive counseling with a psychologist or psychiatrist (particularly one that specializes in postpartum depression), take anti-depressants, join support groups, and seek company from loved ones. Although most people who suffer from any kind of depression, all they want is to be left alone. It is important that during recovery, the mother does not isolate herself from others and that she seeks out those relationships and talks about what is on her mind. These methods will help speed up the recovery for the mother, child, and other family members around.
There are six disorders that have been identified for postpartum. The first is postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder; this happens in about 3% to 5% of women and includes symptoms like repetitive and unrelenting thoughts of harming themselves or their child. The next is postpartum panic disorder; 10% of women will develop this disorder postpartum. Symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, restlessness, numbness and tingling sensation. There is also postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder; generally this is onset if the woman experiences any type of traumatic experience during pregnancy. Symptoms may include anxiety when there are reminders or thoughts of the traumatic experience (Zauderer, 2009)
There are also postpartum depression disorders. The first is the blues; this usually happens one to two weeks after birth and women experience symptoms like crying, anxiety, mood swings, and depression. The next is depression; this is a non-psychotic disorder, the symptoms are usually similar to the blues, but also may include the feeling of guilt or being inadequate and also suicidal thoughts. The final category is psychosis; 2 out of every 1,000 women will experience psychosis. Symptoms usually appear 48-72 hours after birth and include symptoms like delusion, paranoia, hallucinations, and talking to oneself. Those who develop psychosis are more likely to harm their child. There is a 4% infanticide rate in the psychosis phase (Ambrosini, Donzell & Stanghellini, 2012).
Postpartum depression not only affects the mother, but it can affect the father, the baby, and other family members close to the new parents. Postpartum depression can have both short term and long term side effects. Researchers have found that babies of depressed mothers scored the poorest on all outcome measures after nine months (Nauret, 2009). Mothers who suffer from postpartum depression are more likely to discontinue breastfeeding around 4-16 weeks postpartum, which also affects the child because they have difficulty feeding and may not get enough nutrition from the dry formula or the other foods that their mothers provide. Lastly, a mother's postpartum depression can affect the babies sleeping pattern. Babies with mothers who suffered from postpartum ended up crying more and only sleeping on average of 6 hours per night (Field, 2009). All of these factors impact the child's development and increase their stress levels.
On a long term scale, researchers have found that the child(ren) of postpartum parents tend to have delayed psychological, cognitive, neurological, and motor development skills. They are also more likely to have serious emotional problems and poorer mother-child relations. These long term effects may continue up to ages four to eight years old (Gjerdingen & Yawn, 2007).
The partner and/or family member(s) will have an increase in their duties; they may be working more to supplement the loss of income of the mother and they may also be taking on extra duties at home like cleaning, cooking, and caring for the child as the mother works towards treatment and recovery. All of this extra workload may cause stress and anxiety on the partner and/or family member which can lead to them developing depression as well (PANDA, 2015). Unlike the mother, the father/partner, may not experience the emotional symptoms of postpartum depression, they will instead experience symptoms like violent behavior, anger, substance abuse, working more, and impulse behavior (Hibbert, 2015). It is important that the partner and/or family members feel supported as well, because not only is the mother being impacted by this disorder, but everyone around.
There are few traits that researchers have identified in women who are more likely to develop postpartum depression; women who lack confidence, have negative events preceding childbirth, have financial and/or professional difficulties, marital conflict, low socio-economic status, or women who have been previously depressed or have had anxiety (Ambrosini, Donzell & Stanghellini, 2012). There really isn't a set guide of who will be impacted by this disorder. It can trigger any woman or spouse at any time after delivery. So how can medical professionals help with diagnosing and treating postpartum?
This information can be used in the physician's office to help diagnose women early on and help provide adequate treatment. Currently, only 50% of physician's offices are screening women for postpartum depression. There are only two states in the United States that require women to be screened for mental health, Illinois and New Jersey (Gjerdingen & Yawn, 2007). The main reason there is a small number of women being diagnosed and treated is because there is a lack of recognition.
The first thing that physicians can start doing is mental health screening; during pregnancy, 4-6 weeks post-delivery, and at the one year checkup. Another method is to provide education during pregnancy on how childbirth can affect the woman's moods. This will allow the mother and spouse to set expectations and have a guideline on what symptoms to look for postnatal (PANDA, 2015). These methods encourage the mother to take control over her own mental health and not panic if they happen to develop any symptoms of postpartum depression.
There are also other methods that can help a mother recover from postpartum depression if she develops this disorder. A mother can receive counseling with a psychologist or psychiatrist (particularly one that specializes in postpartum depression), take anti-depressants, join support groups, and seek company from loved ones. Although most people who suffer from any kind of depression, all they want is to be left alone. It is important that during recovery, the mother does not isolate herself from others and that she seeks out those relationships and talks about what is on her mind. These methods will help speed up the recovery for the mother, child, and other family members around.
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