Depression And Postpartum Depression

The journal article I researched explains the correlation between postpartum depression and breastfeeding (Borra, Iacovou, Sevilla, 2014). Specifically, if the intention of breastfeeding, and if the actual action is completed, can affect postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a treatable mental health issue, and researchers are currently trying to prove what the best treatments are and also how to prevent it. My future research would be seeing the improvement rates between not going to therapy, group therapy, and cognitive therapy. Then ultimately figuring out what the best treatment plan would be.

This journal article did research about the cause and effect of breastfeeding on women who have postpartum depression (PPD). They did research on the mother’s mental health status at the different time of postpartum, and inspected how breastfeeding could affect the mothers. The research found out that the effect of breastfeeding on postnatal depression is heterogeneous. Whether or not the

Postpartum depression, which is the most prevalent of all maternal depressive disorders, is said to be the hidden epidemic of the 21st century. (1) Despite its high prevalence rate of 10-15% and increased incidence, postpartum depression often goes undetected, and thus untreated. (2) Nearly 50% of postpartum depression cases are untreated. As a result, these cases are put at a high risk of being exposed to the severe and progressive nature of their depressive disorder. (3) In other words, the health conditions of untreated postpartum depression cases worsen and progress to one of their utmost stages, and they are: postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder, postpartum panic disorder, postpartum post traumatic stress, and postpartum psychosis.

Thesis: Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can greatly effect new mothers. Knowing how to recognize their symptoms and treating it can greatly increase chances of a healthy, happy living.

However, there are risk factors that may influence someone getting postpartum depression. “Younger mothers are at an increased risk for PPD compared to those who give birth later in life. Other factors that increase the risk a woman will experience PPD after giving birth include financial troubles, relationship problems with a spouse or partner, physical abuse, and tobacco use”. (Black & Tish). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “the drastic drop in the hormones, estrogen and progesterone, following childbirth may lead to chemical changes in the brain which can cause mood swings.” On top of this change in hormones the mother is recovering from childbirth and may be faced with physical exhaustion. Current research has demonstrated that a compilation of stressors such as biochemical, genetic, and psychosocial may attribute to the development of this mental disorder. Other risk factors for development of postpartum depression include symptoms of depression before or after pregnancy, bipolar disorder, medical complication during childbirth, and family history of postpartum depression. (2015 Postpartum) It is important to know the risk factors for postpartum

According to Katon (2014) research has shown several predictors of postpartum depression. The risk factor are as follows: prenatal depression, self-esteem, childcare stress, prenatal anxiety, life stress,

Mothers who have brought into this world a blessing have been preparing themselves for a big change in their life. They have been learning and educating themselves about how to be a good mother. Many mothers find it really hard to transition from being an independent woman without children to becoming a mother (Corrigan, Kwasky, & Groh, 2015). Adapting to motherhood can be a drastic change, and usually creates challenges that lead to feeling overwhelmed (Leger & Letourneau, 2015). When a newly mother begins experiencing stress or becomes emotional then there can be a possibility that they can encounter Postpartum Depression (Leger et al., 2015). Postpartum depression can be seen and experienced in many different ways, it all varies on every mother (Corrigan et al., 2015). Many different mental health issues can be seen including baby blues, postpartum depression, postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the most serious, postpartum psychosis (Tam & Leslie, 2001).

Postpartum depression is the most common psychological complexity that occurs after childbirth (Bakhshizadeh, 2013). This form of depression has been reported to be as high as 20% (Asltoghiria, 2012). The mother will begin to experience postpartum depression between the birth of the infant and 6 to 8 weeks later (Bhati, 2015). Depending on the person, the typical length of postpartum depression ranges anywhere from two weeks to two years in length (Posmontier, 2010). It is thought that postpartum depression affects mothers of multiples at a greater incidence than mothers whom birth just one child, and the chance increases with the number of children in a multiple birth. Evidence shows that the older the mother’s age at the time of birth, shows there is no notable increase in the risk of being diagnosed with postpartum depression. Another factor that is thought to have an influence on the diagnosis of postpartum depression is income within the household. A study shows that as income goes down, the risk of having

70 to 80 percent of women who have given birth experience what is know as “Baby blues,” (Piotrowski & Benson, 2015). These are mild symptoms of depression and usually go away within two weeks after giving birth. However, the symptoms of unspecified depressive disorder with peripartum onset also known as postpartum depression (PPD) can be more intense and last significantly longer than the “baby blues.” According to the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association [APA] 2013), postpartum depression occurs during pregnancy or in the 4 weeks following delivery. Postpartum depression has symptoms that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in the new mothers life and can include the inability to take care of the newborn or herself. The

Postpartum psychiatric disorders are generally divided into 3 different categories: postpartum blues, postpartum psychosis and postpartum depression. Postpartum blues are very common. Symptoms are characterized by crying, confusion, mood swings, and anxiety. These symptoms manifest early after birth but don’t last very long. Another one is postpartum psychosis which is more severe. Symptoms appear within four weeks and include delusions, hallucinations and gross impairment in functioning. Postpartum depression begins in or extends into the postpartum period (Ohara, 2004). According to Health Facty, there are 10 symptoms of postpartum depression; sadness, mood swings, feeling overwhelmed, crying spells, problems with memory and concentration, change in sleep cycle, altered patterns of eating, loss of libido, social withdrawal, and an enduring sense of exhaustion. Symptoms must last longer than one moth to be diagnosed as postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression is a health issue that takes a toll of a mother’s well-being, attitude, livelihood and their outlook on life. New parents of all ages can be affected from postpartum depression, a teenager who is still a kid herself or a mother of three who has never experienced this depression before. Although any new parent can be affected by postpartum depression the most common mother who is diagnosed are parent under 30, parents of young children, white women, Latina adolescent mothers, low-income women and women with little to no education, and immigrants. Mothers experience postpartum depression for many reason. Heredity, hormonal changes, biological factors and trauma are some reason why mothers experience this kind of depression.

Postpartum depression is not as prevalent as the ?baby blues?, but it is much more debilitating and serious. Beck (2016) explains in her article

According to MedlinePlus, "the exact causes of postpartum depression are unknown. Changes in hormone levels during and after pregnancy may affect a woman’s mood. Many non-hormonal factors may also affect mood during this period; Change in your body from pregnancy and delivery, changes in work and social relationships, having less time and freedom for yourself, lack of sleep, and worries about your ability to be a good mother (Postpartum depression, n.d.)”. Romm states that becoming a mother can be overwhelming, and few women are fully prepared for how exhausting and emotional their lives can become greater giving birth (2013, p. 13). Romm also claims that from the view point of emotional issues, as many as 50%

Almost ten percent of recent mothers experience postpartum depression ((3)), occurring anytime within the first year after childbirth ((3)). The majority of the women have the symptoms for over six months ((2)) . These symptoms include

Maternal depression can have effects on many individuals. It is a disorder that can have ramifications on women, men, children, and families. Maternal depression is not a disorder that just happens postnatal , this diagnosis can occur in the prenatal stages. It 's estimated that 1 in 10 pregnant women and 13 percent of new mothers experience depression. Maternal depression is a mood disorder that begins before or immediately after childbirth. It affects a mother or fathers ability to adequately care for her young child (Wahowiak, 2014). Symptoms include changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns, irritability, mood swings, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, crying jags and difficulty concentrating. Unlike the "baby blues," which typically last only a few weeks, postpartum depression lasts longer and can be more severe. In addition, a lack of energy, withdrawal from family and friends, unexplained anxiety, and certain physical ailments such as headaches and heart palpitations could also be symptoms of depression. On average, maternal depression peaks 4 years after the birth of their child .individuals experiencing maternal depression may also find that they are uninterested in the new baby or have irrational fears of harming them (Wahowiak, 2014). Individuals who suffer from maternal depression are less likely to implement safety measures in the home, such as the use of child safety gates, electrical outlet covers and car seats and they are less likely