Beliefs, Awareness, and Experiences of Postpartum Depression on First-time Mothers

Running head: POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION ON FIRST-TIME MOTHERS
The Beliefs, Awareness, and Experiences of Postpartum Depression on First-time Mothers
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POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION ON FIRST-TIME MOTHERS
Summary
This paper is a description of a research study proposal that seeks to understand the
beliefs, awareness, and experiences of first-time mothers with postpartum depression. The
study will achieve its goal by adopting a qualitative research approach that will be guided a
phenomenological methodology framework. First-time mothers between 13 and 45 years
whose only ailment is the post-partum depression will be the target for the study. In-depth
interviews will be used to collect data that will be analyzed using thematic analysis.
Introduction
Postpartum depression, which is a mental disorder that develops after delivery, has
adverse effects on the mother, her infant, and family. It usually occurs within the first month
after birth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 10%-15% of
mothers in the United States experience postpartum depression within the first year after
delivery as cited in (Abbasi, Chuang, Dagher, Zhu, and Kjerulff (2013). However, in other
countries, this prevalence can be as high as 60% (Abdollahi, Agajani-Delavar, Zarghami, &
Lye, 2016). The condition affects the mother’s ability to care for her child to the extent that it
impairs the bonding with her child and the developmental processes of the child. There are
various risk factors associated with the condition. Women who receive little to no social
support during pregnancy, have poor educational attainment, are in the lower socio-economic
strata, and have had depression or anxiety during pregnancy are at risk of postpartum
depression. Abbassi et al. (2013) went ahead and added to the current repository of scientific
articles by showing that unintended/unplanned pregnancies were also linked to postpartum
depression.
Postpartum depression is a psychiatric disorder that is diagnosed using specific
instruments that are not available at the antenatal clinics. It is difficult to diagnose because
the symptoms can be easily mistaken to be the typical changes that are associated with

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION ON FIRST-TIME MOTHERS
pregnancy and women after birth. Therefore, women who are not able to different the normal
changes from postpartum depression might not seek treatment or seek it when the signs and
symptoms have grown out of hand. Understanding the experiences of these women will help
to understand whether intervention is timely is not; thereby, make relevant recommendations.
Despite the fact that postpartum depression is deemed to have adverse effects on both
the mother and child, there is no literature that shows screening procedures that mothers are
subjected to in view of detecting the psychiatric disorder. While postpartum depression only
affects the woman, the family and society and large are also greatly involved because the
actions projected from the two entities have a direct effect on the mother. Thereby, by
investigating the experiences of these women, it is important to understand the outer circle
that should be involved so that women who are vulnerable to the condition can receive the
support they need from all those around them.
Background and Rationale
There is paucity of evidence on the viewpoints and experiences of first-time mothers
with postpartum depression. Gao, Chan, You, and Li (2010) conducted similar study like the
current one, but the current study goes ahead to determine what these first-time mothers now
about postpartum depression to determine if they are able to relate the experiences they
receive to postpartum depression. The study by Gao et al. (2010) was conducted in China, but
the current study will take place in a different setting.
Symptoms that have been shown to manifest among mothers with postpartum
depression are mild elation, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, confusion, and high tendency
for crying (Gjerdingen & Yawn, 2007). Most mothers, and especially the first time mothers,
are not aware that they have the condition; hence, they are not able to relate these symptoms
to postpartum depression and seek treatment. It is, therefore, necessary to delve into this topic
and understand whether first-time mothers are aware of the condition. and how they approach

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION ON FIRST-TIME MOTHERS
the problem because some of them might be shy depending on their statuses. For example, a
single mother is likely to suffer in silence to avoid criticism from society. Also, a mother with
low educational attainment might perceive these symptoms to be normal as they continue to
take a toll on both her health and that of her child.
Unfortunately, postpartum depression is not given adequate attention because the
medical care team is bound to overlook psychiatric disorders. Constraints of time, heavy
workload, and lack of knowledge on the intensity of postpartum depression effects are the
barriers to a holistic treatment plan (Pearlstein, Howard, Salisbury, & Zlotnick, 2009).
Thereby, most mothers, and especially the first-time mothers who are not adequately
empowered might not know they have postpartum depression when they show the signs.
First-time mothers tend to be overwhelmed by the new responsibility, and they might shrug it
off as an effect of the pressure that will pass away with time (Abdollahi et al., 2016). Also,
most of these women do not know where to seek services for such disorders, and are wary of
society’s criticism of being labeled as mad.
There are limited services in place to help women who have given birth to deal with
their new responsibility, for example, education during discharge after delivery. Thereby,
without the know-how and without adequate resources, these women are bound to fall, into
depression. However, it is important to understand the kind of support that they need so that
they can be advised and linked to organization or groups that can help them deal with their
predicaments. The current research helps to obtain relevant data that is specific to the need of
first-time mothers and inform the healthcare department accordingly, and especically in the
wake of electronic health records where information can be readily shared across health care
professionals.
Research on this topic is limited, but the available evidence has been inclined to risk
factors of the condition and therapeutic approaches to help redress the condition. However,