Postpartum depression : a guide for front line health and social service providers

Summary: Many women are not prepared for the range of physical and emotional changes they may experience after the birth of a child. These changes can leave new mothers sad, exhausted, afraid, anxious or just not feeling themselves. For many women, these feelings go away quickly. But when they do not go away or get worse, a woman may have postpartum depression (PPD), a serious condition that often requires treatment from a health care provider. This book answers key questions that front-line workers may have about PPD. It offers practical advice based on clinical experience and the most up-to-date research. It also addresses issues of diversity and provides a uniquely Canadian perspective. Some of the questions answered in this guide include: What is PPD, and how common is it? What causes PPD, and what risk factors have been associated with it? Why does PPD often remain undetected? What can front-line providers do to prevent PPD in the mothers they work with? What treatments are likely to be effective for PPD? When and where should a woman be referred for assessment or treatment, or both? How does PPD affect a woman's partner, family, infant? What strategies can ensure that the needs of all women who require PPD treatment are met? What postpartum self-care strategies can service providers recommend?

Other Formats and Editions