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Discussion

Postpartum Depression

I am completing my OB rotation this week and we have a group assignment. My group was given the topic "postpartum depression". Part of the assignment is to find out how RNs approach the topic with their patients. Well, I never actually spent time in mother/baby during my clinical rotation so I did not get the chance to ask.

I could make it up, it's a fairly simple subject but I am just wondering if you can tell me how you approach the subject with your patients. What are some signs that might trigger you to mention it to your patient? Do you give them a pamphlet on it? Do you teach them what to look out for? Do you teach the partner what to watch for?

Thanks for your assistance!!

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    usually in their prenatal history that we get, they are flagged there and we alert our post partum support coordinator. And we tell the pt that we have done so and that she will come in to meet with them prior to discharge, and will have follow up calls at certain intervals there after. Most are very appreciative of that.

    but for all mom's we give out informational packets in their discharge goody bag (a duffle with a baby swaddler, story book, & water bottle) and go over the s/s of post partum blues and depression with them during their post partum education and let them know we have support groups that meet on certain days during the month, and also a give them a list of other resources in the community. So its discussed with all mom's prior to discharge and they have something tangible to leave us with to refer to at home.

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    We go over all that information in discharge teaching. There is a PP discharge video that parents are required to watch before leaving that mentions it and we verbally mention and go over s/sx of PP depression before discharge.

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    If the patient has a previous history of depression, anxiety, mental health issues, etc. that is flagged for a social services referral upon admission.

    But, also immediately post partum, there is a little folder of information that includes information about PPD, as well as a 'newborn channel' on the hospital tv, we ask the moms to watch. 24hrs after vag delivery and 48hrs after c/s, the mothers are given the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale test. It's a simple 10 question list that specifically refers to how they've felt in the past seven days about a bunch of different things regarding themselves and their happiness, etc. We have it in pretty every language imaginable. Any score 10 or above is then referred for a psych consult, as is a positive response to the last question which asks if they've thought about hurting themselves.

    Finally, there's also information included in d/c teaching that explains the difference b/t PP blues and PP depression. It gives a number and website addy, as well as trigger signs to call the doctor, visit the site, call the hotline.

    Go check out the Edinburgh. I think you'll find it interesting.

    Hope that helps.

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    • Experts

    As someone who had pretty bad postpartum depression after my first baby (thank goodness it was much more mild after #2), this is a topic I always make sure to go over. I include it in the list of things to call the doctor for once she gets home. All the symptoms, the difference between baby blues/pp depression or anxiety/pp psychosis. I make sure (if she is breastfeeding) she knows there are meds she can take while breastfeeding. Bonus points if there is a SO or close friend/family in the room.....they need to hear what to look out for too. So often, new moms are so caught up in taking care of the new baby that they don't recognize signs of trouble in themselves. It's nice when there's someone else who hears what to look out for and can pull them aside to say, "Look, you are not yourself, and you need help." I had someone do that for me when I was such a mess after my son (it was actually the NP who sees him) and she probably literally saved my life.

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    • Author

    Thank you for the information!!

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