Where are all the p.p. Nurses views?

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 20, 2003

are you talking about post-partum depression?

i am sorry but this post is confusing to me. maybe I need more coffee......

let me know exactly how i can help...

Jolie, BSN · Oct 20, 2003

SmilingBlueEyes,

I was thinking exactly the same thing. Although I did have decaf this morning!

Dayray, RN · Oct 20, 2003

I think they are talking about post partum depression.

If you are there aren't allot of resources for this. Studies have been done but nothing definitive has been published. I did my senior research project on pp depression.

I probably read 200 articles and did read 8 books about it.

As far as who's job it is to deal with it, well all health care professional should do there part in educating, preventing and treating it.

PP depression is a general term that is applied to 3 different severities of the condition.

1 baby blues... unexplained sadness, crying spells, mood swings and feelings of not being good enough as a mother or wife. 50 - 80% of women experience some form of baby blues post partum.

2 post partum depression... not being able to get out of bed, crying or sad most of the day, strong fear of harming or failing to care for baby and self loathing. 10 - 20% have some pp depression to some extent. these patients need treatment and very few get it.

3 postpartum psychosis, hallucinations, fantasies about the baby hurting them or them hurting the baby. these patients are afraid of there children and often believe that the children are going to kill them, its rare and these are the patients that end up killing there children.

there isn't one thing that causes post partum depression, Its a combination of 3 factors,

1. biophysical, hormone levels change dramatically after delivery.

2. emotional, patients are naturally in a emotionally vulnerable state and under stress.

3. social situations, the patient might feel that her significant other doesn't support her or she may feel that she is unable to care for her new baby.

As a post partum nurse I would discuss this with all my patients. I would tell them to expect some of the symptoms of baby blues and that they were normal. I would reinforce to the Significant other and family that they needed to reassure her that she was a good mother and to make sure that the patent wasn't falling into depression. The significant other is so important they can do so much to prevent or detect symtoms so I would always do my best to make them responsible.

It is so important to talk to patients about this. Many women have some symptoms but are embarrassed to say anything so I would always tell them that it was a physical condition and not a mental one (not completely true but there is less of a stigma this way). You have to make it safe for them to report symptoms.

Very often patients are dismissed as emotional or hormonal and not treated.

The lady who killed her children in Florida was so obviously suffering from post partum psychosis. She had repeatedly told her husband that she was not safe to care for her children, she had asked for help from both her OBGYN and her family doctor. Everyone blew her off. Now she is in prison for life and her children are dead.

It should be everyones job to help patients with pp depression but please realize that most health care provides don't do there part. So, if you are in the position to teach, treat or care for these patients do the most you can as you are probably the only one who will do anything.

send me a PM if you need more info

wannaknow · Oct 21, 2003

yes, I'm talking about postpartum. Sorry if it doesn't seem to clear in the thread, but I suppose that it could be because it doesn't seem very clear to me, ( the research seems to be cloudy). There doesn't appear to be much info from people's (nurses/mother's) perspectives. There is a lot of info on the cause, symptoms, and what it is in general (a depression) but I was hoping for the views on what the mother's think of the care provided to them by the p.p. nurse (to help diagnose or prevent the failure irrationality). Also, what the nurses think of the care available now, or if there could be more to ensure that new mother's don't leave the hospital without the security they feel they need. All other topics of disscussion seem to have views from both sides, ( H.I.V. and the nurse, pallative, even for premies), but postpartum depression nursing views is a lot harder to find. Not in general but in a personal reflection. A understanding from a inside view. Someone who deals with women who go through postpartum depression, and how these women feel/ felt about the care involved. I hope this clears things up a little. Thanks for pointing out that perhaps I had to many questions and not enough clarity. I'd appreciate any input to help put some info into this cloud I have. Hmmmm.... I suppose I'm looking for a P.P. nurse that deals with not only the postpartum stage of birth but with the postpartum depression that is associated with it. I guess that can make it confusing. It sounds as though the postpartum nurse deals with the postpartum depression of the mother's. Is this not true? Or is it just the term used that is the same? Is postpartum depression not at all associated with the postpartum nurse?? In any case, I need both sides. The post partum and post partum depression issues affecting the nurse or mother's!!! Oh brother, this is a little bewildering!? Thanks in advance. Chee.. I think I need a coffee now!!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Oct 21, 2003

Having had it twice myself I certainly feel that there needs to be more care by ALL professionals. My GP said "snap out of it" TWICE even! He gave me RITALIN which I would not take due to BF.

After the second child I ran out of self resources and attempted to get out of life altogether. That was smilingly diagnosed as "situational depression" and was told "it will all be better soon."

No one ever advised me of pp depression. I wasn't a nurse then so I took the info and decided *I* was the broken toy.

Now after 36 years of depression, SOMEONE has finally listened to me. I have been blessed all be it late by an understanding doctor and counselor.

I'd love to be able to call down lightening on anyone who tells a depressed new mother to "snap out of it." A BIG snap of lightening might get their attention-ya think?