Sunday, September 15, 2019
Post Partum Depression Essay
ABSTRACT                Every woman who becomes a mother has their own reasons of being happy after giving birth to a child. The first days of a child in their arms seems to be the greatest gift that they have ever received in their entire lives. However, things at times turn out uneasily different as the view of the mother to her new born child and at times even towards her husband changes. At some point, she treats the people visiting her in a wrong manner. Being overly anxious about things and extremely depressed in either the morning or the evening becomes her usual reaction to the things happening around her. Is she going crazy? No, she is simply experiencing Post Partum Depression. It is a matter of situation by which a new mother’s hormones are unstable that her emotions are controlled by the changes that her body undergoes after giving birth to her child. This is the main issue that shall be tackled within the paper that follows.                How does one understand what Post Partum Depression really is? How is it supposed to be dealt with by the mother and by other people living around her? Is it a serious problem that needs medical treatment? How will the family members know when to ask for professional help? TO the women experiencing this particular matter of situation, how would they be able to overcome it? These are only among the few questions that shall be addressed in the paper that shall be presented herein. Through the discussions that shall be noted in this paper, the importance of addressing the matter shall be noted clearly as to how the procedures of dealing with the issue could be practically applied in actual situations. POST PARTUM DEPRESSION: Dealing With the Ups and Downs of New Motherhood Introduction            The wonder of giving birth is something that is considered as a given gift solely to the feminine gender of the human population. However, the after effects of this particular wonder also belong solely to the women. What is it that makes giving birth a highly depressive matter for some women? This is where the issue of Post Partum Depression comes into light. Undeniably, the process of dealing with this issue is something that needs careful attention not only be the women involved in the situation but also by the people living around them. The term â€Å"postpartum depression†refers to depressive episodes following childbirth. These can occur after the birth of any child, not just the first. Depressive episodes can even follow a miscarriage or termination of a pregnancy. According to the Office on Women’s Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there is a wide range in the severity of the symptoms. Many women experience postpartum blues, or baby blues, characterized by mild sadness, anxiety, irritability, fluctuating moods, and fatigue. These blues are considered normal and are short-lived, resolving themselves without medical help within about ten days after childbirth. However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that in 1 out of 10 new mothers, these feelings escalate and go beyond the first few days. They can even appear several months after the birth. This may be full-fledged postpartum depression, in which the feelings of sadness, anxiety, or despair are so intense that the new mother has trouble coping with her daily tasks. Additionally, between 1 and 3 new mothers in every 1,000 suffer from an even more severe form of depression called postpartum psychosis, in which the mother has delusions or hallucinations that often focus on hurting herself or her baby. This latter condition requires immediate medical attention. There is no single clearly defined cause of postpartum depression. Both physical and emotional factors seem to be involved. One physical factor may be that in the first 24 to 48 hours after delivery, estrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply, to a point lower than before conception, creating an abrupt change in the physiological state of the body. This may trigger depression in much the same way as mood swings and tension are triggered before menstrual periods. The level of hormones produced by the thyroid may also drop after childbirth. This could result in symptoms that mimic depression. For these reasons researchers are calling PPD a â€Å"biochemical and hormonal disorder.†Interestingly, one medical newsletter suggests that postpartum depression may be caused by a nutritional imbalance, perhaps a B-complex deficiency. Fatigue and lack of sleep can also play a role. Says Dr. Steven I. Altchuler, a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, U.S.A.: â€Å"In the period shortly after childbirth, lack of energy and an inability to sleep may make minor problems seem much more major. Some women might be frustrated to find that they have difficulty coping with things that they had handled well before delivery, without the baby blues, and with a full night’s sleep.†Emotional factors such as an unplanned pregnancy, a premature birth, loss of freedom, concern about attractiveness and lack of support can also add to depression. Additionally, there are several common myths about being a mother that can contribute to a woman’s feeling depressed and feeling that she is a failure. These include the idea that motherhood skills are instinctive, that bonding should be immediate, that the baby will be perfect and never fussy, and that the new mother should be perfect. In real life this is not the case. Mothering skills need to be learned, bonding often takes time, some babies are easier to care for than others, and no mother is perfect or a super mom. Obviously from this particular overview of the situation, post partum depression stands as a common thing that is experienced by women who have given birth to young infants. As common as it is, the situation is indeed something that could be dealt with conscientiously. Through the process of understanding the situation towards the process of making amends with the person dealing with the dilemma, the problem with Post Partum Depression could be won. Methodology and Result Presentation            To understand how women affected by Post partum Depression react towards the problem, the researcher of this paper decided to interview at least 20 women who have just given birth with at least three days from the actual delivery of their babies. This interview-survey has been delivered by the researcher to finally give a lighter view of the dilemma that women deal with after giving birth to their infants.            The interviewees consisted of both first time mothers and experienced mothers alike so as to set the matter of differences and similarities between the cases that needs concern in the issue of dealing with PPD [Post Partum Depression]. Until recently, postpartum depression was often not taken seriously. Dr. Laurence Kruckman points out: â€Å"Women’s mental health issues have been overlooked and labeled in the past as hysteria, not worthy of concern. The American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual (DSM IV) has never fully acknowledged the presence of postpartum illness, and as a result, doctors have not been educated about it nor has reliable data been obtained. . . . And unlike 30 years ago, mothers often go home from the hospital within 24 hours. Most postpartum psychoses, blues and some depression occur within three to 14 days following birth. So the mothers are already at home and not screened by professionals who know the symptoms.†However, according to Dr. Carol E. Watkins of the Northern County Psychiatric Associates in Baltimore, Maryland, if left undiagnosed or untreated, postpartum depression can lead to long-term depression and difficulty in bonding with the baby. Depressed mothers may passively ignore their baby’s needs or, conversely, lose control and use physical punishment to discipline their infants. This can negatively affect the cognitive and emotional development of the child. For example, an article in the journal American Family Physician suggests that young children of depressed mothers perform more poorly on cognitive tests than those of mothers who were not depressed. Additionally, postpartum depression can adversely affect the other children and the husband.            Furthermore the results of the interview-survey used in this research yielded the following diagrammatic presentations. To understand the issue clearly, the illustrations are to be presented as follows: The Elements of POST PARTUM DEPRESSION: DIAGRAM 1:            Explanation: From the diagram noted herein, it is noticeable enough that the women involved with Post Partum Depression deal with different anxieties causing the situation to worsen. Being overly anxious about not being cared about and being less treated well by the other members of the family because of the arrival of the new infant is indeed a matter of elemental factor that brings a greater pressure on the mother experiencing PDD.            This is the major reason why dealing with the issue involves not only the woman or her husband alone but also the other members of the family as well. The following points are considered to be among the most effective procedures of dealing with the dilemma according to the studies that had been made under the topic of Post Partum Depression. The said points of consideration are as follows: Talk to someone about your feelings, particularly other mothers. Ask others to help you with child care, household chores, and errands. Ask your husband to share in nighttime feeding duties and household chores. Find time to do something positive for yourself, even if it is for only 15 minutes a day. Try reading, taking a walk, taking a relaxing bath. Even if you can get only one thing done in any given day, this is a step in the right direction. There may be days when you cannot get anything done. Try not to be angry with yourself when this happens.  Isolation often perpetuates depression. Get dressed, and leave the house for at least a short while each day. Fresh air and a change of scenery will do you and your baby a lot of good. These particular patterns of dealing with the situation needs to be carefully understood by the person themselves. This means that the adjustment must come from the mother herself. What can be done? Do you just have to tough it out? It is comforting to know that postpartum depression has been found to be both temporary and treatable. While rest and family support may be all that is needed for mild symptoms, the key sign that medical attention is necessary is if the depression disrupts your ability to function, says the Office on Women’s Health. Common treatments are antidepressant medication, talking with a mental-health expert, hormone treatment, or a combination of these, depending upon the severity of the case. Kangaroo, or skin-to-skin, care of the baby may also lessen maternal depression. There are also such alternative treatments as herbs, acupuncture, and homeopathic remedies. However, there are some things that you can do personally to cope. These include eating a nutritious diet (including fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain cereals); avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and sugar; exercising in moderation; and taking a nap when your baby is asleep. Since a major factor in postpartum depression is lack of proper rest, other people can help by assuming some of the household chores and sharing in child care. Studies show that far less postpartum depression occurs where the extended family rallies around to provide support and instruction. Many times a person can be of great assistance by just being a sympathetic listener, giving the new mother reassurance, and avoiding criticizing or judging. Remember, PPD is a physical disorder and is not self-induced. As the organization Postpartum Education for Parents points out, â€Å"a woman cannot ‘pull herself together’ any more than she could if she had the flu, diabetes, or heart disease.†From the foregoing, it can be seen that although the postpartum period can be a wonderful time for new mothers, it can also be stressful. Understanding it can help us to give the support new mothers need. The Use of Hoe Massage Therapy            Every massage therapy is supposed to make close amends with the situation of the persons being affected by post partum depression. A touch therapy such as that of massage could play a great help for those suffering from the dilemma. Undoubtedly, the Hoe massage therapy which is a Japanese originated massage procedure is sure to make a sufferer of post partum depression feel relaxed as it rejuvenates the being of a person through natural scents and aroma therapy altogether. The holistic process of massaging the body would make the patient feel relived and rejuvenated to face another day of turmoil.            In short, the hoe massage is an undoubted process that is now being applied to most patients undergoing the effects of Post Partum Depression. Such patients who have experienced this massage have given considerable reactions that they were certainly given the best approach of healing that they could ever imagine through the Hoe Massage Therapy applied on them for several weeks and even months. They even said that when they feel stressful, even when the postpartum dilemma is over, they resort to how massage therapy just the same to calm things down and bring their spirit to a renewed state. Conclusion            Understanding Post Partum Depression is a vital part in dealing with the dilemma that new mothers mostly deal with. The after birth depression among new mothers, both first time and non-first-timers have naturally brought problems to new families. Not understanding the situation underlying this particular matter would make things certainly confusing as the mother would naturally require the same level of attention that is further given by the father or other members of the family to the newly born infant. Scheduling activities and providing further assistance with that of the relaxing time of the mother should be given close attention by the family members.            Understandably, Post Partum Depression is a matter of situation that could be dealt with through the application of full control of the situation with ample patience and understanding from the people involved. Constant understanding of the situation with the application of the necessary measures needed to treat the dilemma should be well viewed so as to bring fine results to the mother of the child and the other family members as well. Through this, the development of the dilemma could be expected to yield fine results on the part of the woman or the mother overcoming the dilemma brought about bu Post Partum Depression. References: Appleby, Louis, Rachel Warner, Brian Faragher, and Anna Whitton. A Controlled Study of Fluoxetine and Cognitive-Behavioural Counseling in the Treatment of Postnatal Depression. British Medical Journal. 314.n7085. 932-937  Appleby, Louis, Rachel Warner, Brian Faragher, and Anna Whitton. A Controlled Study of Fluoxetine and Cognitive-Behavioural Counseling in the Treatment of Postnatal Depression. British Medical Journal. 314.n7085. 932-937 Appleby, Louis, Rachel Warner, Brian Faragher, and Anna Whitton. A Controlled Study of Fluoxetine and Cognitive-Behavioural Counseling in the Treatment of Postnatal Depression. British Medical Journal. 314.n7085. 932-937 Fray, Kathy: â€Å"Oh Baby†¦Birth, Babies & Motherhood Uncensored†, pages 364-381, Random House NZ, 2005
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