Need for Support for Breastfeeding Mother (Research Paper Sample)

Need for support for breastfeeding mother
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Research shows that breastfeeding reduces post-partum depression by 50 percent in women that intend to breastfeed their children. Some willing mothers are however unable to breastfeed and it elevates their risk to depression, and thus require additional support (Gallegher, 2014, p. n.p). Postpartum depression commonly occurs within the first twelve weeks after birth and its symptoms are similar to depression that is unrelated to childbirth. Mothers that lack social support networks, those with low-income and low socioeconomic status have a particularly higher risk of developing depression. They miss the opportunity to release the feel good hormone during breastfeeding and feelings of incompetence, loneliness and low self-esteem among others exacerbate their depression. It is essential to support mothers and alleviate the negative feelings and increase their self-efficacy in handling motherhood roles.
Impact of the health issue discussed in the news article
The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) indicates that mothers in Canada have an elevated risk of admission in a psychiatric hospital within the first month of postpartum than during any other period. It also indicates that seventy five percent of the women experience mild depressive feelings otherwise known as baby blues while 20 percent experience postpartum depression (Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, 2005, p. 15). Postpartum depression can result in impaired maternal-infant interactions. It causes mothers to engage in risky parenting and withholding of age appropriate nurturing and sensitive parenting. They remain unresponsive to infants’ interactions and withhold positive feedback and affection (Letourneau, et al., 2012, p. 448). It in turn affects a child’s attachment and causes a delay in cognitive and emotional development.
In some cases, mothers’ depression result in difficult child temperament, poor health, poor motor and intellectual development and other long term problems of self-esteem, emotional wellbeing and social competencies (Letourneau, et al., 2012, p. 448). Postpartum depression also affects other members in the family. Research shows that fathers also experience depression when supporting their partners to handle their depression. It is estimated that 10 percent of fathers experience postpartum depression within the first twelve months. It also shows that fathers’ depression onset stars later than mothers’ and that those that are depresses within week 4 to 6 remain symptomatically depressed until six months. When both partners are depressed it often results to marital problems characterized by feelings of frustration and poor interactions with other children in the family (Letourneau, et al., 2012, p. 446).
Two social determinants of health will be discussed as they relate to the issue
Social support networks significantly affect a new mother’s mental health. Research indicates that isolation and absence of supportive relationships directly contributes to elevated stress levels and vulnerability to disease. It also has indirect effects through involvement in unhealthy behaviors such as overeating (Perry, Hockenberry, Lowdermilk, Wilson, Sams, & Keenan-Lindsay, 2014, p. 7). In Canada, certain groups of people such as single parents and lower income earners report having inadequate social support. It is therefore very essential that healthcare providers monitor single mothers and those from low-income households more intently.
Affording disadvantaged mothers extra social support assists them in coping with changes, solve problems and maintain control over their lives. It conforms with the Canadian population study that shows that higher levels of support lead to lower psychological distress. Affording social support significantly impacts on a mother’s behavior and provides affirmation and practical assistance needed in child care (Perry, Hockenberry, Lowdermilk, Wilson, Sams, & Keenan-Lindsay, 2014, p. 7).
A mother’s income and socio-economic status is strongly linked to mental health. Single mothers fall into the 9 percent of Canadians with the highest poverty according to the 2008 after tax cut-off statistics. The report indicated that single mothers form 21 percent of the poor population in Canada. Poverty exacerbates psychological health because people lack the resources that support health and reduce stress. Research indicates that having lower income contributes to lower self-esteem, lower sense of mastery and increased depression (Perry, Hockenberry, Lowdermilk, Wilson, Sams, & Keenan-Lindsay, 2014, p. 7). These effects compound the depressive state of lower income mothers, and they thus require more intense support to prevent or manage postpartum depression.
Related nursing strategies to support the health of the family, including the principles of family centered care
Nurses can use self-report measures such as the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS) to identify women experiencing postpartum depression. A 2004 study on Canadian mothers indicated that the EDPS scores done at one, four and eight weeks were significantly related. Canadian mothers with high EDPS scores at seven days had a higher risk of depression at the end of one and two months (Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, 2005, p. 21). It is also useful to observe predictors of postpartum depression such as history of life stress and unavailability of social support (Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, 2005, p. 16).
New mothers’ husbands, sisters, own mothers and friends are the main source of support. Supporting mothers with practical assistance on how to care for their infants in the postnatal period can be essential in facilitating women that find the transition into motherhood particularly stressful. For instance, when mothers learn how to latch their babies on to the breast, it reduces frustration that would otherwise result in depression. It also increases mothers’ maternal self-efficacy and enables the mother to successfully handle the demands of motherhood and lessens the experience of stress and depression (Leah-Warren, McCarthy, & Corcoran, 2009, p. 389). Healthcare practitioners and social support networks also require including fathers while supporting women with postpartum depression. Healthcare practitioners must take keen interest in including the mother, father and their families in developing a treatment plan that addresses their unique experiences (Doucet, Letoumeau, & Blackmore, 2012).
Supporting women in dealing with post-partum depression may entail establishing community education to create awareness among family members about its symptoms. It is also essential for nurses to openly discu...