Page 279 - كتاب تمريض نسا الاكتروني

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■ This condition is usually temporary and may occur in the hospital. The

condition is partly due to hormonal changes, and partly due to the ego

adjustment that accompanies role transition.

■ Up to 10% of women can experience postpartum depression. Usually,

reassurance and education are sufficient therapy, but sometimes a

psychiatric consultation is required. Antidepressant therapy may need to

be initiated. Postpartum depression can recur with subsequent

pregnancies.

■ Many women may experience temporary mood swings during this period

because of the discomfort, fatigue, and exhaustion following labor and

delivery, and because of hormonal changes after delivery. If this continues

after 10 day this called postpartum depression

Manifestations of emotional changes

 Disturbed appetite and sleeping patterns

 Discomfort, fatigue, and exhaustion

 Episodes of crying for no apparent cause

 The mother may experience a letdown felling accompanied by

irritability and tears which often relieves the tension

 Guilt felling at being depressed

Predisposing factors of emotional changes

 The first pregnancy

 A pregnancy in late childbearing years

 Ambivalence toward the woman’s own mother

 Social isolation

 Long or hard labor

 Anxiety regarding finance

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