Postnatal Depression and its Impact on Parents

Running head: MIDWIFERY ASSIGNMENT
MIDWIFERY ASSIGNMENT
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

MIDWIFERY ASSIGNMENT1
Introduction
Postnatal depression is a type of depression syndrome which is acquired by parents
within a year of their baby’s birth. due to the drastic change in life that comes after the birth of
baby, majority of the parents suffers from distresses that in critical condition, leads to depression
(Ogbo et al., 2018). As per the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2019), every 1 in 7 Australian
women suffers from postnatal depression and in the year 2008 to 2009, more than 12% mothers
and 9% fathers were found to be assessed with post natal depression. Further analysis is as
follows.
Postnatal depression and associated risk factors
There are several means due to which, majority of the women suffering from postnatal
depression, causes critical situation. As per Loughnan et al. (2019), the risk factor of developing
mental illness or severe psychotic illness is higher in women who delivered their babies and the
chances of psychiatric hospital becomes higher (12.5% as mentioned in this research study). As
per Ogbo et al. (2018), there are primarily three type of disorders which occurs to patients
suffering from postnatal depression, and these are Blues, puerperal psychosis and postnatal
depression, in which the prevalence of blues among women is higher than other two type of
disorders. The patients further develops symptoms such as appetite disturbance, tearfulness,
irritation, anxiety and mild to major depression. Such healthcare condition could lead to several
complications among the healthcare professionals because as per Shafiei et al. (2018), the
screening process of postnatal depression is difficult from other depression symptoms and it is
difficult to assess the depression condition properly.

MIDWIFERY ASSIGNMENT2
Role as a midwife nurse
While conducting post natal care intervention is very crucial as while undergoing
pregnancy, midwifes help them with their activities of daily life and through the informed care
process, healthcare intervention to treat their labour and postnatal prior of pregnancy would be
conducted (Paltiel, 2018). Therefore, the patient who suffers from such situation should be
provided with emotional support, mental illness intervention and the healthy diet and nutrition so
that they could take care of their own health. Further, as the women who suffer from postnatal
depression become unable to focus on their child’s emption, the risk factor of acquiring several
diseases increases among patients (Ogbo et al., 2018). Therefore, the primary role of student
midwife professionals is to conduct a healthcare interview so that through the use of patient
assessment, the healthcare complication of postnatal depression could be controlled. Hence, as
per Rich (2013), midwives, with their communication and behavioural therapy could provide
support to the patients so that they could overcome their postnatal depression (Shafiei et al.,
2018).
Critical appraisal
In a research conducted by Arifin, Cheyne and Maxwell (2018), the primary aim of the
research was to determine epidemiological evidences of prevalence of postnatal depression in
different countries around the world. After conducting the systematic review in prominent
nations around the world, it was seen that the prevalence of post natal depression was more than
50% in Japan and United States, whereas, in Malaysia, the prevalence was noted as 27.3%.
Hence the range of post natal depression is more than 15%, around the world. Another research
article should be included in this critical assessment section, as the rate of post natal depression