POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION: EXPLORING NURSE COMPETENCE IN PROMOTING POSTPARTUM MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

The objective of this file is to review what postpartum depression is, the signs, symptoms, treatments and, mainly, the importance of nurses in promoting, preventing and recovering the mental health of women diagnosed with or at risk of postpartum depression, providing the reader an accessible and easy understanding of the topic. The study methodology is a review of the literature on the concept and occurrence of this disease, in which its etiology is multifactorial and does not present specific symptoms. One of the main causes is the hormonal imbalance that occurs during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. During pregnancy, the placenta produces an abundance of estrogen and progesterone. After childbirth, with the removal of the placenta, there is a drastic drop in the levels of these hormones, resulting in a decrease in serotonin, which can produce a depressive effect. In conclusion, the external factors that contribute to the onset of the disease include domestic violence, previous obstetric abuse, lack of support from family, spouse and friends, stress, financial problems, lack of pregnancy planning, physical limitations before, during and after pregnancy, psychiatric disorders or family history. Finally, it was possible to understand the needs for support or support network for the postpartum woman in the first months and throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period.