Postpartum depression (Essay Sample)

Post-partum Depression Author name Institutional affiliation Course number and name Instructor name Assignment due date Post-partum Depression The birth of a baby is something that brings joy to a family. Even after childbirth, most mothers experience mood swings, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite, irritability, crying and difficulties bonding with the baby. In most cases, these negative experiences last up to two weeks after birth, but in some instances, they can be severe and long-lasting hence heavily impacting the quality of life of the mother and the baby. The epidemiology rationale of this topic was based on the fact that about 10-15% of mothers experience post-partum depression yearly (Anokye et al., 2018). The fact that most women are usually unaware of this condition makes post-partum depression worth examining. As a result, mothers tend to perceive this condition's presentation as a character flaw with little to no ways of coping with it. Readiness to Learn While this paper integrated a community teaching work plan in the proceeding sections below, this section examined factors that indicate readiness to learn. Readiness to learn occurs when the leaner, in this case, pregnant women, are receptive, willing, and able to participate fully in the learning process. Thus, assessing their readiness is key because it directly affects how the lesson will be absorbed. The aspects to look at when examining their readiness includes their anxiety levels, motivation, state of mind, present knowledge base, general health status, and the stage of pregnancy. Experiential readiness can also be evaluated by examining the level of aspiration and past coping mechanisms. Anchoring the lesson to theory is essential. For example, behaviorism holds that learners' behaviors are formed through reinforcement. On the other hand, cognitivism connotes that new knowledge is built upon existing. These theoretical frameworks inform the teaching plan to incorporate meaningful activities that allow students to collaborate, learn, and apply new knowledge. Since there are different types of learners, such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic, theory informs that instructional methods should be diverse to meet the unique needs of each type of learner (Akram, 2014). Instructional goals offer a broad view of the outcomes of a teaching plan. For pregnant women, the instructional goal of this plan will be to demonstrate a full understanding of post-partum depression and the requisite for self-care and coping with the condition. This goal is well aligned with healthy people 2020 objective of improving the health and well-being of women, infants, children, and families (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). This objective is further related to Alma Ata's health for all global initiatives as it seeks to improve the health of pregnant women through community action and participation. Behavioral Objectives When it comes to teaching in relation to a topic of interest, constitutes of cognitive domains include cognition and metacognition. In this case, having a good understanding of post-partum depression will assist in the adoption of self-care and relevant coping mechanisms to prevent the progression and worsening of the condition. Thus, cognitive objectives will be; to understand and explain what post-partum depression is and the signs and symptoms of this condition. The second objective will be to explain why screening, support groups, and counseling are essential in diagnosing and managing post-partum depression. Affective domains constitute readiness to learn, a desirable behavior towards learning, attitudes, emotions, and the value placed on the topic of learning. One of the two objectives will be to demonstrate an attitude of self-reliance and commitment to adopting coping mechanisms. The second objective will be to demonstrate confidence that with self-care, relevant coping mechanisms, and counseling, it is possible to overcome post-partum depression. Lesson Content The lesson will begin by displaying a picture of a pregnant woman kneeling on her bed crying, with her hands covering her face. This start is meant to capture the attention and interest of the learners. The teacher will ask the learners what they think the woman is going through. After an engagement, where learners air their views, the lesson will briefly introduce the topic of post-partum depression. The second component of the lesson will explain baby blue symptoms, which include mood swings, anxiety, crying, and feelings of being overwhelmed that last for up to two weeks. These symptoms will then be differentiated from those of post-partum depression, which is intense and last longer. Symptoms of post-partum depression include a depressed mood, withdrawal from family and friends, insomnia, tiredness, and loss of interest in pleasure activities. Additionally, irritability, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and thoughts of harm/suicide might be present in a major depressive episode. The third component of this lesson will be screening diagnosis. In this section, learners will be briefly introduced to DSM V and be taken through the patient health questionnaire PHQ-9. They will be informed that while the diagnosis is made using the DSM V manual under a qualified health professional, the PHQ-9 can identify symptoms that indicate one is at risk of depression. This questionnaire can be self-administered, but it is only meant to offer a guide, and results should be discussed with a professional for further direction. The final component of this lesson will focus on self-care and coping mechanisms for baby blue symptoms and the treatment, including antidepressants and therapy for post-partum depression. Learners will be educated on the importance of self-care and coping mechanisms such as exercising, being connected to family and friends, opening up to close people, and visiting the park/garden, among others (Lin et al., 2018). Journaling, a coping mechanism that can help pregnant women express their negative thoughts in a positive way, will be introduced. The lesson will also explain the importance of medication adherence for those administered antidepressants. Counseling and therapy will also be introduced, and their importance in treating this condition will be thoroughly presented to the learners. In addition, support gro...