Postpartum Depression - Coursework Example

? Postpartum Depression Case Study Postpartum Depression Case Study Postpartum Depression is common for women who have given birth, lasting for even a whole year after the birth of a child. The disorder occurs at an average of 10 to 20 % of women immediately after giving birth, characterized by concern for the health of the newborn child as well as the feeling of causing harm to the newly born by her mother (Boyce, 2003). Women are likely to get affected by the disorder during their prime age of reproduction, ranging between 25 to 40 years of age. The case of Mandeep Singh is a classic case of Postpartum Depression, identifiable by the feelings that she has, of harming her newly born child and the observable characteristics of being agitated and withdrawn, as well as the consideration, that she is within the prime age of productivity, being 28 years old (Arentsen, 1968). Several factors can contribute to Postpartum Depression to Mandeep. Hormonal changes are among the factors that contribute to this disorder (Duffy, 1983). There occurs a great hormonal change in the body of a woman immediately after giving birth. The hormonal changes are characterized mostly by a greater reduction of serotonin levels in their bodies after they give birth (Harris, 1986). Consequently, the woman may be engulfed by the feelings of agitation, restlessness and hatred for her newly born baby. Status transition is another cause of this disorder. Since the birth of a child is a transition of a woman, from a girl to a mother, then it is associated with stress, on how the woman is going to fit in the new status and roles. If by any chance any other circumstances that can cause stress occurs at the time as this transition, then the woman develops overwhelming stress which ends up as depression, as was the case of Mandeep due to a low economic status (Kumar, 1994). Another factor that contributed to the disorder is the ongoing life stress. Whenever a woman is faced by a long time of stress in her life, then, it accelerates when she gives birth, subscribing to Postpartum Depression. Dysfunctional love relationship is yet another factor that could have contributed to Postpartum Depression for Mandeep, as the long duration she would spend without her husband contributed to stress (Boyce, 2003). 2. The three nursing priority assessments in the case of Mandeep, which would help to devise the actual disorder from which she was suffering, include age. Since this disorder is mostly common for women who are in their prime age of productivity, then assessing the age of Mandeep would serve to indicate if she falls within that age bracket (Mauthner, 1999). Another assessment would be the socio-economic status of Mandeep. This assessment is necessary since the lower economic status of many women is contributory to stress, as they ponder the challenges of bringing up the newly born child, with such economic hurdles. Through the assessment of the economic status of the woman, then, the nurses can trace the actual causative factors to the disorder from which Mandeep is suffering. A significant assessment undertaken by the nurses is the nature of the relationship between Mandeep and her husband. The relationship between a woman who has recently given birth and her partner significantly affects the state of mind of a woman who has recently given birth (Sluckin, 1990). If there is tension and bad blood between the woman and her partner, then, there are greater chances that such a woman will suffer from the disorder. Thus, carrying out the assessment of such factors underlying the life of Mandeep would help the nurses determine the causative factors of the behavior she is exhibiting. 3. Whenever it is evident that the woman having recently given birth harbors the feelings of harming herself or the newly born baby, then treatment interventions becomes necessary. Some nursing interventions are necessary for the treatment of the disorder that Mandeep is suffering. The priority intervention will be given to the administration of antidepressants to Mandeep. This administration will go along way in ensuring that she gets over the stressful feelings and thoughts, mostly caused by the hormonal imbalance (O’Hara, 1995). However, in the administration of the antidepressants, the effects of such to the breastfeeding of the newly born should be assessed and put into consideration. Psychological counseling is the other intervention that should be prioritized by the nurses in addressing the case of Mandeep. Through counseling, the impacts of the stress more so regarding the mental and emotional state of the woman will be mitigated, thus helping her to address and face the issues affecting her with sanity and in a state of a sound mind (Harris, 1986). Exercise and good nutrition is yet another intervention that the nurses should adopt in addressing the case of Mandeep. This will serve to ensure her physical fitness, an aspect that enhances fighting the impacts of stress. 4. Therapeutic communication will go a long way in helping the nurse care for Mandeep and her family in that, it will encourage her to talk out her fears and hallucinations with her family members, creating a suitable ground through which she will be understood and cared for (Cohen, 1998). The communication and socialization between Mandeep, her family members and the nurses will serve to relieve her of major stresses, thus assisting her recover from the depression. 5. The nurses can use various therapeutic communication skills, when caring for Mandeep and her family. The example of such skills applicable in this case includes silence. This is a skill applied in therapy, where the nurses will give chance to Mandeep and her family to take control of the discussion forum, if they wish to dos so (Arentsen, 1968). By allowing Mandeep and her family to control the forum, they easily give all the factors affecting them and propose solutions that are practical and applicable to their situation. Another skill that can be applied by the nurses to care effectively for Mandeep and her family is giving recognition, where the nurses acknowledges all the positive developments that they are making towards addressing the depression issue. Additionally, the nurses should observe what the clients perceive and express in implied terms, by verbalizing and speaking it loud with her and her family for clarifications and better understanding (Cox, 1983). 6. Mandeep’s behavior warrants involuntary admission into the hospital. This is because, her behavior, regarding the urge to harm the child and refuse to hold the newborn could turn fatal, if the situation is not controlled at this stage. Since her mind seems out of sanity, then she needs to be admitted and cared for by the nurses, until she stabilizes (Harris, 1986). 7. The three ethical/legal issues that should be considered include loneliness, mental health state and intent. These elements should be considered in that, by choosing to restrain her, she might experience more loneliness, which may add to her depression. Mental health is also an essential consideration in that it would not be appropriate to subject an individual of unstable mental status to restrain, unless it is justifiable that her failure to be restrained could cause harm to her welfare as well as the welfare of others (Beck, 1992). Intent is an important consideration, in that the intention as to why Mandeep should be restrained ought to be genuine and fair, like to subject her to medical help. 8. As a nurse, I would react to Mandeep’s mother in laws demand to “tie her down”, by letting her know it is not appropriate (Duffy, 1983). The basis of this reaction could be the fact that she may not understand the situation or the condition that Mandeep is suffering from. References Arentsen, K. (1968). Postpartum psychoses with particular reference to the prognosis. Dan.Med.Bull. Beck, C. T. (1992). The lived experience of postpartum depression: a phenomenological study. Nursing Research, 41, 166-170. Boyce, M. (2003). Risk factors for postnatal depression: a review and risk factors in Australian populations. Arch Women Ment Health. Cohen, S. (1998). Pharmacologic treatment of depression in women: PMS, pregnancy, and the postpartum period. Depress Anxiety. Cox, J. L. (1983). Postnatal depression: a comparison of African and Scottish women. Social Psychiatry, 18, 25-28. Duffy, C. L. (1983). Postpartum depression: identifying women at risk. Genesis, 11, 21. Harris, B. (1996). Hormonal aspects of postnatal depression. International Review of Psychiatry, 8, 27-36. Kumar, R. (1994). Postnatal mental illness: a transcultural perspective. Soc.Psychiatry Psychiatr.Epidemiol., 29, 250-264. Mauthner, N. S. (1999). "Feeling low and feeling really bad about feeling low": Women's experiences of motherhood and postpartum depression. Canadian Psychology, 40, 143-161. Nicolson, P. (1990). Understanding postnatal depression: a mother-centred approach. J Adv.Nurs. O’Hara, W. (1995). Postpartum Depression: Causes and Consequences. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 1995. Sluckin, A. (1990). Bonding failure:`I don't know this baby, she's nothing to do with me.'. Clinical Child Psychology&Psychiatry, 3, 11-24. Read More