Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a serious mental health issue which can pose as a risk towards the relationship between a mother and her baby (Thompson & Fox, 2010).Postpartum depression is a serious mood disorder experienced by women after giving birth. This complex mood disorder can impact the entirety of the mother such as mind, body and spirit. The dreams a mother has as to what they expected motherhood to be like can be compromised by this mood disorder. Most health professionals estimate that between 15 and 20 percent of mothers who have recently given birth will be affected by postpartum depression at some point in time in their life (Thompson & Fox, 2010). Research also suggests that 700,000 new moms develop postpartum depression on a yearly

This debilitating disease affects extended family members too. This can be husbands, siblings and even extended family as mentioned before. Research shows that postpartum depression impacts the new born baby and the new born baby is at an increased risk for having behavioral problems and developmental delays due to the neglect of care (Thompson & Fox, 2010). This scholarly research paper will examine the ways in which postpartum depression and anxiety affects the mother to baby relationship and how health care professionals can use nursing interventions towards the treatment of postpartum depression to promote an optimal post pregnancy lifestyle.Postpartum depression and anxiety levels have serious effects on the mother’s lifestyle which then causes serious effects for the newborn. The mother 's physical well being such as the changes in her diet, sleep and activity levels can result in her being less well nourished, exhausted and overly or less active than usual (Thurgood, Avery & Williamson, 2009). Combined with ongoing depression and high levels of anxiety this will in turn reduce the body 's immunity and ability to fight

Anxiety is embedded within the symptoms of postpartum depression and the research demonstrates data as to why this can be overlooked in many cases (Thurgood, Avery &Williamson, 2009). “This may be why so many cases of PPD are missed, as many clinicians use the Patient Health Questionnaire which covers depressed mood and dysphoria, but not anxiety as their primary screening technique” (Thurgood, Avery &Williamson, 2009) . Indeed, 66% of depressed mothers have a co-morbid anxiety disorder and should be evaluated carefully by their physicians so the appropriate interventions may be utilized. It is important for the physician to distinguish these feelings of anxiety as pathological and not necessarily attributed to being a new mother. Some physicians generalize having anxiety as a result of being a first time mother or being a mom in general, this results in treatment being overlooked. It is significant for physicians to recognize that anxiety is a prominent factor in postpartum depression so that treatment options will cover symptoms of anxiety as well as depression (Thurgood, Avery &Williamson,