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.

Thesis (M.S. in pharmacology and toxicology)--Washington State University, May 2010. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 23, 2010). "Graduate Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology." Includes bibliographical references (p. 25-30).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Western Australia, 2005.

Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2009. / Title from file title page. Wendy Simonds, committee chair; Elisabeth O. Burgess, Dawn M. Baunach, committee member. Description based on contents viewed Sept. 28, 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-76).

Psychiatric morbidity in the postpartum period has been a subject of research for years that has been plagued by much controversy. Most of the studies have come from Western countries. Studies that were done in Africa have concentrated on psychotic disorders in in-patients. A pilot study done by Cheetham et al (1981) at King Edward VIII Hospital found a high incidence of 'transient situational disturbances', which required further investigation. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To document the spectrum of psychiatric morbidity in an out-patient population of postpartum Zulu women; 2. To define predictive factors which would identify women 'at risk'; 3. To assess the feasibility of 'Western' screening instruments; 4. To investigate whether 'postpartum blues' occurs in Zulu women. RESEARCH DESIGN A prospective, descriptive study was undertaken. Sample Selection: 177 postpartum Zulu women attending the ' Well-Baby' Clinic at King Edward VIII Hospital were randomly selected for inclusion in the study. Methodology: Three questionnaires: The General Health Questionnaire- 30, Pitt's Questionnaire of Anxiety and Depression and The Kennerley Blues Questionnaire were administered to the subjects. A Structured Clinical Interview DSM-III (SCID) was conducted in those women with symptoms. FINDINGS: 1. The majority of the sample were between the ages of 20 and 30 years, unmarried, with a Senior Primary education and a baby of 20 weeks. 2. 45.76% of the sample had a psychiatric diagnosis, with 18.07% having major depression. Other disorders included: adjustment disorders, schizophrenia and dysthymia. 3. Significant variables using Chi-square analysis were: inadequate antenatal care, a negative response from the partner and the absence of cultural rituals. No association was found with demographic and obstetric variables. 4. T-test analysis showed a correlation between the questionnaires and the SCID. 5. 37.3% had experienced 'postpartum blues'. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The spectrum of psychiatric morbidity is affective in nature and similar to other studies. 2. 'Postpartum blues' does occur in Zulu women. 3. Antenatal screening with 'Western' instruments could reduce psychiatric morbidity. 4. The nomenclature of puerperal disorders is inadequate and needs review. 5. More prospective, community-based research is needed, especially in rural Zulu women. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1992.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Psychology

Project (Ed.S.)--James Madison University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months provides numerous infant and maternal benefits. Yet mothers with risk factors, such as lower education, lower socioeconomic status, younger maternal age, planned cesarean birth, and anxiety and depression, are more likely to stop breastfeeding in the early postpartum period. Few studies have focused on perinatal depression as a risk factor for breastfeeding cessation. To tailor effective interventions, nurses must first understand the lived experience of breastfeeding for mothers at risk for perinatal depression. A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted to elucidate the experience of breastfeeding for mothers with perinatal depression. The study was grounded in Swanson’s middle-range theory of caring. After university Institutional Review Board approval, a purposive sample of 10 women was recruited from various organizations. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and semistructured, audiorecorded face-to-face or telephonic interviews were conducted. The researcher transcribed the data which was transformed into constituents of the mothers’ lived experience by utilizing Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method. Five constituents emerged: choosing selflessness, harboring inadequacy, deliberate persevering, discerning meaning, and cherishing intimacy. The constituents embodied the essence of the mothers’ thoughts and feelings connected to breastfeeding. By daily choosing selflessness, mothers consciously decided to breastfeed despite physical or psychological struggles. They often were harboring inadequacy due to ongoing struggles which led to incessant thoughts of maternal incompetence. Yet they successfully breastfed for at least 2 weeks after birth by deliberate persevering. Through breastfeeding, they were discerning meaning to realize their value as mothers. Finally, they reveled in purposeful moments of togetherness with their babies through cherishing intimacy. The study findings inform recommendations for nursing education, practice, research, and policy. Nursing education must include basic breastfeeding and perinatal mental health knowledge in prelicensure curricula and up-to-date lactation management techniques and perinatal mental health awareness training in continuing education. Practicing maternal-child nurses must provide education and support to mothers about advantages and difficulties of breastfeeding throughout the perinatal period. Future research includes determination of support needs for women with perinatal depression with subsequent development and evaluation of therapeutic actions to promote breastfeeding success. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection