Postpartum depression: a reflective review of a practicum completed with St. Joseph’s Hospital

Abstract

For every woman, having a baby is a challenging time, both physically and emotionally. It is natural for new mothers to have mood swings after delivery. They may experience feelings of joy one minute and desperation the next. These feelings are sometimes known as the "baby blues", and often go away within 10 days of delivery. However, some women may experience a deep and ongoing depression which lasts much longer. This is called postpartum depression (PPD). This Practicum report is a review of the Practicum I completed, in conjunction with St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Estevan, Saskatchewan. The Practicum took place between the months of August 2010 to April 2011. The goals for this Practicum included the following: to ascertain whether there is a need for a PPD Support Group in Estevan, to facilitate a six week PPD Support Group, to gain an in depth understanding of PPD and its effects on women and their families, to improve my clinical skills, to strengthen my skills in program development, to create a hospital newsletter to help educate staff on PPD, to provide education at prenatal classes offered by Public Health, as well as to provide education at the Baby and Me classes offered at the Family Place. This report is divided into nine sections which include ideology, theory, values, ethics, relationships, strategies, skills and visions. I conclude that, with a combination of education and supportive services, postpartum depression can be de-stigmatized which would, in turn, encourage women to access services rather than living a life of hopelessness and despair.