Nursing Coursework

WK 9 Assignment 2: Practicum – Journal Entry
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WK 9 Assignment 2: Practicum – Journal Entry
Postpartum depression is considered to be among the main complications affiliated with childbirth. It is also perceived that most women view the condition as shameful and fear being subjected to stigmatization on the basis that they have a mental disorder (Werner et al., 2014). The case study includes a 29-year old Caucasian woman diagnosed with post-partum depression.
On the patient’s personal history, she has three children, a five-year-old boy, a three-year-old girl and a three-month-old baby boy. She works as a pre-school teacher while her husband works as a contractor. The patient’s medical history includes a one-year struggle with anxiety after giving birth to her first child and suffering from depression during her teenage years after the death of her father. Most patients diagnosed with postpartum depression are often provided with anti-depressants that work on certain chemicals emanating from neurotransmitters in the brain. During treatment and drug therapy, the patient was provided with Fluoxetine and Zoloft that function as anti-depressants. She was advised to be patient as anti-depressants take time to function as expected. She was also referred to a psychotherapist in which she was advised to attend at least two sessions in a week until she gets better.
The follow-up care involved ensuring that she abided by her medication and that she maintained contact with the clinic’s psychotherapist.

The associated view is that most women tend to avoid going for mental health services and thus preferring self-care. This may negatively impact their recovery process and thus the need for checking up on them regularly to ensure that they maintain their therapy sessions (Haas, 2012). On the effects of the condition, in some cases, if post-partum depression is left untreated or not managed well, infanticide or maternal suicide is likely to occur (Sharma, V., 2012; Sharma, P., 2012). Also, if the patient does not receive proper medication, the interaction between her baby and she may be severely affected. Her child is also likely to develop behaviour problems when he grows up (Sharma, V., 2012; Sharma, P., 2012). On the other family members, the condition may affect the relationship between the patient and her family due to the unpredictability of her emotions. It is, therefore, necessary to ensure that she receives proper care.
Reference
Haas, P. (2012). Postpartum Depression Improves with Screening, Follow-up Care, Study Shows. AAFP.org. Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20121016trippstudy.html.
Sharma, V. & Sharma, P. (2012). Postpartum Depression: Diagnostic and Treatment Issues. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 34(5):436–442.
Werner, E., Miller, M., Osborne, L., Kuzava, S., & Monk, C. (2014). Preventing postpartum depression: review and recommendations. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 18(1), 41-60. doi: 10.1007/s00737-014-0475-y