published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

Thesis (M. Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-101).

Thesis (D.Psych.)--Murdoch University, 2002. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Social Sciences, Humanities and Education. Bibliography: leaves 244-304.

Thesis (M.Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 140-147)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-114).

Abstract Postpartum depression (PPD) has been identified as a mental health condition that impacts women, men, and families. PPD has been shown to be prevalent in both women and men following the birth of a child; it has been associated with marital conflict, insecure attachment, and poor infant-child outcomes. While PPD has been studied extensively in women, paternal PPD often goes understudied, undetected, and untreated. The purpose of the present research was to explore the lived experiences of men who have experienced PPD through the lens of self-perception theory using a qualitative phenomenological study. Six men who have experienced PPD shared their lived experiences with PPD, including how they recognized they had a problem and what alerted them to get help. Data were analyzed using coding and the development of themes; the findings for this study showed that men's lived experiences with PPD included feelings of sadness, anger, fear, confusion, and being in denial. The men tended to not seek help for their experiences of PPD, and they were not previously informed about the disorder of paternal PPD. The present study provides a better understanding of PPD for fathers, information for healthcare providers who deal with expectant fathers, and significant others such as mothers of the child, and other family members and coworkers regarding how to respond to paternal PPD. Better understanding of PPD will provide fathers with more of the support they need to successfully make the journey through PPD.

Approximately 500,000 women in the US suffer from postpartum depression (PPD) every year. Yet only half of women affected seek treatment. PPD affects the entire family unit, altering parenting behaviors and increasing prevalence of depression among male partners of women suffering from PPD. In addition, infants whose mothers suffer from PPD have a higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and more frequent hospitalization as well as cognitive and behavioral delays. Despite the significance of PPD to the health of women and families, most research has focused on the identification and treatment of PPD. Research pertaining to intrapartum events as possible risk factors for PPD has been contradictory and variable in quality. The purpose of this study is to examine possible relationships between intrapartum events and subsequent incidence of postpartum depression.The Diathesis-Stress Model provides the foundation for this proposed research, in which a combination of vulnerability factors (diatheses) in the context of life events (stress) results in psychopathology (PPD). Vulnerability factors such as previous history of depression, prenatal anxiety, or low self esteem may interact with intrapartum stressors such as cesarean section, induction of labor, or use of pain medication to increase PPD symptomatology. This study will examine the stress component of the Diathesis-Stress Model.The study design was a retrospective descriptive design aimed at identifying relationships between intrapartum events and PPD. A chart review was performed to identify intrapartum events and scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at two- and six- weeks postpartum. The sample consisted of 102 women who delivered at a specified rural New England birthing center during 2007.Nurses commonly interface with women in health care settings and are uniquely poised to educate them about PPD. Nurses have the unique opportunity to alert women to the potential risk for PPD and encourage them to report signs and symptoms early. Increased reporting of symptoms can reduce the number of unidentified cases and promote interventions that avert some of the devastating emotional, physical, and economic consequences.

Much information is available through the print and other forms of media about pregnancy, parenthood, and the birth process, but significantly less information exists about postnatal depression or about how to cope with the often-painful realities of childbirth and parenting. Even less information exists about the effectiveness of caregiver intervention, especially from the point of view of womens' remembered experience. This study helps to fill the information gap identified in the literature. This is a hermeneutic phenomenological study guided by the ideas of van Manen (1990). I interviewed women who had experienced postnatal depression and health professional intervention, and asked them about their experiences. Some of the questions were, "What are the types and quality of health professional interventions provided for you by health professionals treating your postnatal depression?" "Which interventions did they use that were helpful for you, and which interventions were unhelpful?" The interviews were open-ended and tape-recorded, took one hour each, and the data was allowed to unfold naturally. The data were transcribed and analysed, then interpreted using the philosophical underpinning of phenomenology to guide my interpretation. The search for meaning in the text, and my attempts to make sense of the findings resulted in the development of two major themes, the first being Dual Reality and the second being Interventions, each theme had three sub-themes. Within the theme of Dual Reality were the sub themes of Behind the Mask, the Stresses involved in Being a New Mother, and The Depression Experience. Within the theme of Interventions were the three sub themes of Getting Help (the helpful interventions), Lack of Support, (the unhelpful interventions), and the Need for Education and More Services for Postnatal Depression (the missing interventions). The helpful and unhelpful health professional interventions were examined, some were positive and helped the women to heal from postnatal depression, and others were unhelpful (or simply absent), and the women were not assisted in their recovery. A number of recommendations are made and also suggestions for further research are included as a result of the findings of this study. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Clinical Nursing, 2005.

Postpartum Fatigue is a predominant concern of women after childbirth. Postpartum Fatigue is a pervasive and distressing experience that has negative health-related effects on women, infants, and families. Using grounded theory this study explored the process of postpartum fatigue in 13 women from diverse contexts in the six-week period after childbirth. The human process of Persevering emerged from the data. Persevering explained how participants continued Caregiving in the face of all but the most debilitating Postpartum Fatigue. Caregiving of the infant and older children was the outcome of the Persevering process. The need and ability to persevere emerged out of relationships between Postpartum Fatigue, Self-Transcendence, and Coping Techniques.Persevering is depicted by the model "Persevering through Postpartum Fatigue." The model has five major concepts: Influencing Factors, Postpartum Fatigue, Coping Techniques, Self-Transcendence, and Caregiving. Influencing Factors is a group of factors that participants identified as having the most influence on Postpartum Fatigue across the first six weeks postpartum. The three Influencing Factors were: Maternal-Infant Sleep Pattern Conflict, Infant Characteristics, and Fatigue Limiting Factors.Postpartum Fatigue was characterized by four dimensions: Mental, Physical, Stress-Worry, and Frustration. Each of these dimensions had empirical, context-dependent manifestations. Participants responded to Postpartum Fatigue by using a wide variety of Coping Techniques. Coping Techniques helped women manage Postpartum fatigue. Self-Transcendence was an ongoing human capacity called upon by the women to facilitate perseverance. Through the meaning and purpose ascribed to their infants and children, participants found the strength to persevere in caregiving through all but the most debilitating Postpartum Fatigue.The process of Persevering is explained through the relationships of Postpartum Fatigue, Coping Techniques, and Self-Transcendence. Profound negative feelings and an overwhelming desire to rest and sleep brought on by Postpartum Fatigue were offset by the use of Coping Techniques and Self-Transcendence, which enabled women to persevere in the provision of care to their children. "Persevering through Postpartum Fatigue" contributes a more explanatory view of Postpartum Fatigue as it is expressed in the everyday lives of postpartum women.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Johannesburg 2017 / Early skin-to-skin contact is a biological need of newborn infants (Bergman & Bergman, 2013). Preliminary research informs us that this contact directly and indirectly influences the mother-infant relationship. This relationship in turn forms the basis of the infant’s social-emotional development (Phillips, 2013). This study investigated South African mother-infant dyads with and without early skin-to-skin contact and the influence on bonding and touch. Contact over the first 24 hours and bonding were measured within one week postpartum. Tactile interactions in daily routine, touch during face-to-face interaction as well as a repeat of the bonding assessment were completed at six to eight weeks postpartum. No correlation was found between skin-to-skin contact and bonding within one week postpartum. A positive correlation was identified between skin-to-skin contact and bonding as well as an increase in touch in daily living at six to eight weeks postpartum. This was substantiated by an increase in touch during face-to-face interaction. Further more stringent research is however required to confirm these findings. / MT2017