Postpartum Depression: Risks & Management

This assignment delves into the complex issue of postpartum depression. It examines the various risk factors contributing to this condition during pregnancy and after childbirth. The document analyzes the potential consequences for both mothers and infants, emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention. Moreover, it discusses evidence-based management strategies aimed at mitigating the negative effects of postpartum depression.

Running head: ESSAY IN MIDWIFERY
ESSAY IN MIDWIFERY
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

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Introduction
This essay describes about a woman who have become pregnant by a married man, who
has denied taking initiative in the development of the child. The essay focuses on my
performance as a nurse in the care of the concerned woman. This essay aims to focus on the facts
how I have pushed my limits to provide a proper physical as well as mental support to the lady.
How I have helped her to express her feelings and to take care of her own self and baby. The
report also discuses about the importance of the teamwork, that is required in certain cases,
keeping in mind certain professional boundaries and responsibilities. The type of care that has
been provided is on the basis of evidence based practice. Light has also been thrown on different
areas where the nursing care type can be improvised and improved.
Motherhood is the best part of a women’s life and should be cherished throughout to get
the essence of it. It is a wonderful feeling as long as the mother is happy and there are no
complications. In this phase the mental status of a mother directly affects the physical health of
the child and the mother (Liu et al., 2012). Unwanted pregnancy before marriage can bring about
distress in both the mother and child’s life. It has a direct impact on the physical and the
psychological well being of the patient. During this time the body requires incessant care from
both the mother and the father. Lack of a loving husband and care can have a detrimental effect
in the health of the child and both the mother (Alio et al., 2013). Bonding of love between a
parent and a child is very crucial and important for the integrity of the family and the

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development of the child. An unintended and unwanted child can have a negative impact in the
well being of the expected mothers.
This essay focuses on a particular scenario where a 45 years old woman gets pregnant by
a married man. The pregnancy was unintentional and unwanted. Furthermore the man had social
burdens due to which he refrained from taking the responsibilities of his own child. Eventually,
fell prey to drugs, out of anxiety and depression (Briggs, Freeman & Yaffe, 2012). She was
turned homeless during the antenatal assessment of the unborn child. Nobody was there to him to
help her out during that time. Out of depression she has started taking drugs like heroin and
cocaine, being not aware of the fact that these might harm her baby (Briggs, Freeman & Yaffe,
2012). She has been suffering from several mental health issues that had created problems like
distrust. She has stopped adhering to the medications provided to her, but she had stopped taking
them in fear, that those might cause harm to her unborn child. It has also been reported that she
had been in rehab for twice for drugs, but that could not bring any improvement in her life.
Furthermore the mother is in her mid 40’s which indicates that she had already on the verge of
aging.
I have been appointed to care for the concerned woman. This kind of a woman needs
physical support extensive moral and spiritual support to sustain their life. Things would have
been different had it been an only woman. It is also necessary to choose a type of care that is
essential for the mother as well as the child. As a care giver it is very necessary to communicate
to the woman. Pregnant mother who had been exposed to great stress might affect the well being
of their child (Baker et al., 2012). Stress during pregnancy can lead to mental scars on the unborn
child which can have a lifelong effect. It is suggested that a mother facing unnecessary crisis can
leave an effect on the brain of the children. It is known from the case study that the woman had

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become addicted to drug twice. Care should be taken such that the woman does not become the
victim of drug once again. Apart from giving medical attentions it is necessary to provide her
with mental support. In order to do this it is first important to hear the patient what she has to
say, listen to her grievances (Baker et al., 2012). The case study provides with an idea that the
patient is suffering from acute depression and anxiety which can have detrimental effects on the
health of the unborn child. Past studies have shown that children who have abused parent are
more likely to develop depression in their later life. It is necessary to proceed with the treatment
in a non-threatening way. I have tried to provide a friendly and a conducive environment for the
woman, which had helped to build the trust between me and the patient. This trust had helped the
patient to disclose everything to me (Chaudron, 2013). This trust has also enabled her to stick to
the medications. I have assured the mother that the medicines for the depression will not cause
any harm to the baby and is mainly for the well being of the mother’s mental health. I have tried
to assess the conditions of the patient and do accordingly. I have embarrassed her thoughts and
her mentality and have tried to interpret her. A friendly environment has given her with a new
hope of life. I have tried to impart knowledge about the ill effects that drug can pose impact on
her and her baby (Pearlstein, 2015). She was a woman in her mid 40s. She was very uncertain
about her and her baby’s future and was not able to find the value of life (Hoff, 2016). I had tried
my best to give an idea about how precious life is.
I have tried to encourage her that new life can be started even without a father. As single
mother has always been a very popular trend. I have tried to convince her that she should start
afresh and should think about her professional life so that her unborn baby could seek a good
future (Hoff, 2016). For that he need to take care of herself first and the baby, for that adherence
to the therapeutics is very necessary. I have tried to impart her with the education as what can be

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the consequences if her depression and anxiety is not managed. It was evident from the would be
mother that, in no way does she wants to lose her child. In general, during pregnancy emotional
turmoil takes place inside a mother, among which depression is the common (Leahy‐Warren,
McCarthy & Corcoran, 2012). If this is not treated on time then it can pose threat to the health
status of the child. I was aware of the different socio cultural aspects of the woman and chalked
out the plan accordingly. I have tried to build a good rapport with the woman, so that she can
open up and share her feelings. It was already mentioned in the report that the woman had been
abandoned by her boyfriend and had been rendered homeless during the antenatal assessment,
which indicates that the baby might not have got a proper check up and attention (Leahy‐Warren,
McCarthy & Corcoran, 2012). I have monitored the patient regularly and have kept records of
her any progress or deterioration. I have made sure that regular health checkups have been made.
I have always tried to keep the lady engaged with some short duties such that she doesn’t get the
time to brood over her past distress (Chaudron, 2013). I always tried to teach her about how to
take care of her own babies. I have given him all the knowledge regarding the medications and
the different routine tests that have to be performed.
In order to deal with such sensitive situation it is very important to provide a palliative
care. Pregnancy has been always a complex thing and critical as well. In order to manage the
large amount of documents and the information hand out, a seamless communication should be
present between the health care professionals (Paltrow & Flavin, 2013). In order to accomplish
this it is very important to provide a collaborative care to the patients. Cumbersome and
uncoordination between the staffs can reduce the quality of care to the patients. There has been a
growing recognition for the partnership with the patient families and the patient in order to
provide a better health outcome. A single effort would not be able to bring out the outcome that a

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team can. Teamwork is very necessary to involve the other peer nurses and the healthcare
professionals. A team based care had always been successful in providing an appropriate care to
the patient (Pearlstein, 2015). Frequent visit by different staff members including the doctor,
would always try to distract her mind from the bitter incidence. It is evident from the case study
that she has been abandoned by her husband and is homeless. Previously the lady didn’t want to
stay in the health care setting. But gradually when she got to know all the staff members, she
started liking the environment of the health care setting.
A health care team can be of many forms, each entrusted with different duties.
Collaboration is very much essential in order to provide a care that is patient centered. Family
forms a very important part in the provision of care to a pregnant woman, but in this case the
woman is all alone and hence needs the support of the healthcare staffs to provide a proper care
to her and her baby. The health care team tried to give as much help as possible in the antenatal
assessment with the motto of keeping both the antenatal and the mother safe. It should be
mentioned that due to the effects of the drugs the fetus once reached a life limiting condition.
With the efforts of the whole team of professionals it became possible to save the life of the
mother and the baby (Omahony et al., 2012).
Demonstration of the evidence based practice
It has been suggested by several researches that evidence based practice helps to make
birth easier. With the increasing complexities in pregnancies that type of care for the pregnant
woman should also be dynamic. It is necessary to break the conventional practice of the nursing
care that was previously provided to the pregnant woman and to adopt new evidence based
research (Townsend, 2014). Research provides the nurse with lots of knowledge and helps her to

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assess the patient and monitor accordingly. Hygiene, overall health, antibiotics all is responsible
for the reduction in the maternal and the antenatal mortality. The evidence based practice that
was required in this case is to provide a safe, supportive environment, normalize the pregnancy,
reduction of the anxiety and the depression by the stress reduction skills and facilitating the
prenatal attachment (Dennis & Dowswell, 2013). I have thoroughly gone through the past
history as she already has a past history of visiting a mental rehab. While administering any
medications it has been kept in mind about her past medical history and the health status of the
child. A routine thorough check up has been done to assure safety to the baby and the mother.
Since, she had been suffering from acute anxiety and depression. From the case study it is
evident that the concerned woman had been trying to avoid antidepressant medications in fear
that it might be harmful for her health. In that case psychotherapy has been applied (Chaudron,
2013). In some cases where medications can be avoided alternative treatment had be applied. It
should be kept in mind that since that woman is in her mid 40’s and is concerned with such a
sensitive issue therefore confidentiality should be maintained (Mirabzadeh et al., 2012). Free
training programs had been organized to provide the knowledge to the patient about to take care
of the baby regarding breast feeding, its importance after birth. Interactive coaching services,
massage therapies, group counseling has been conducted for the stress removal in the concerned
woman (Dennis & Dowswell, 2013). In a nut shell I have tried my best to apply the following
evidence based nursing practice in order to provide a physical and spiritual care to the distressed
woman (Lauwers, 2015).
My development and future actions
Pregnancy is supposed to be one of the happiest time of a woman’s life, but for many
reasons like as we see in this case, this becomes a time for confusion, fear, stress and depression

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(Glover, 2014).. Therefore as a nurse it is my duty that a patient under me will not have to suffer
from the following problems, failing which would prove my failure. It should be noted that
screening of depression in pregnant woman is quite a cumbersome task and requires experience
and understanding (Leahy‐Warren, McCarthy & Corcoran, 2012). Researches suggest that there
are specific screening tools to assess the depression in pregnant woman. State and federal
government are raising mass awareness regarding the maternal depression and screening and the
treatment. Government should develop norms for these kinds of distressed women who lack
both financial as well as spiritual support. As a nurse I have tried to provide a friendly and
conducive environment to her to ensure treatment in a non threatening way, but more attention
has to be given on the medications (Lauwers, 2015). As the medications can sometimes have
adverse effects on the drugs. During this period the mother often suffers from gastrointestinal
problems or bloating. Assistance should be given to her regarding this. It is very important for
the health care professionals to go beyond their boundaries or the stipulation for the benefit of
the patient (Glover, 2014). According to me more interactive sessions and activities has to be
conducted in order to deal with the mother having mental illness. Evidently it can be said from
the following incident, I have learnt about the psychosocial status of an expecting mother and the
type of care that has to be provided to such a patient (Townsend, 2014). I have also been able to
identify the gaps and the loops that have to be considered next time I encounter such a patient.
It is the right of every mother to get special care during pregnancy, although
circumstances do not always supports this, just as in case of the woman, this study is concerned
with. Since, she has not got the love and the support that she deserves from her husband. We
have tried to provide her with supports beyond her boundaries. The essay focuses on the fact that
proper psychosocial care and therapeutics has been able to bring about desirable changes in the

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mother. The essay further focuses on certain nursing interventions that have been applied in
order to provide quality care to this pregnant woman and routine assessments had been done
which had brought about better outcomes in the patient. The essay further concludes that
provision of spiritual care had been beneficial for the patient. Further it also says that researches
are still to be made in order to strengthen the mode of delivery and care for the patient. In a word
it can be said that love and a proper holistic approach can improve the quality of life in these
distressed patients.

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