In addition, some studies indicate that single women, minority women, and low-income women all suffer more from postpartum depression (Grote & Bledsoe, 2007). Women suffering from the disease often feel as if they are "isolated, trapped, and misunderstood" (Mason, Rice & Records, 2005), but there have been surprisingly few studies of women who are actually suffering from postpartum depression
One writer notes, "The postpartum period is associated with a higher vulnerability for depression. Studies have estimated that within a few days of childbirth between 26 and 85% of new mothers experience the maternity 'blues,' a relatively mild syndrome that usually remits within a few days" (Simonds, 2006, p
Many of these women then decide that a child is what they need to make their life complete because they have already had the other things in life that they wanted to achieve, such as a career (Jannke, 1992). There is also a certain level of apprehension for many women who have children over the age of 35, and this is especially true for women over the age of 40 (Beck, 2002)
These women do have an increased risk of having a child that has a genetic abnormality, and it is important to look at this issue (Beck, 2002). Another concern for these women is that they may be at slightly higher risk for gestational diabetes and hypertension (Beutler, Clarkin, & Bongar, 2000)
This is especially true for women of this age who do not have it all and are looking for the self-sufficiency and autonomy that they feel that they need, are looking to deal with major issues that they may have in a particular relationship, or are still trying to find a career and a comfort level that suits them (Dennis, 2004). These women, when they become first-time mothers over the age of 35 or particularly over the age of 40, often see this bearing of a child as a great source of upheaval in their lives (Bozoky & Corwin, 2001)
They are normally used to being in control of not only themselves but their relationships and their work as well (Fowles, 1998). They are used to being in charge and many of the things, both physical and mental, that happen during pregnancy are completely out of their control (Caltabiano & Caltabiano, 1996)
They are working towards a transition that marks the middle of their life and they are used to having everything that they need (Windridge & Berryman, 1999). They need only a child to complete than and once they get pregnant and have the baby they realize that there are many changes that they must deal with in their lives that they were not actually expecting when they decided on a child (Chaudron, Klein, Remington, Palta, Allen, & Essex, 2001)
This may actually cause extra stress rather than help to reduce the amount of stress that these women feel. They are often frightened by the appetites that they have, the way that they gain weight during pregnancy, and many of the other feelings and thoughts that they have as their bodies and hormones change (Cronin, 2003)
They need only a child to complete than and once they get pregnant and have the baby they realize that there are many changes that they must deal with in their lives that they were not actually expecting when they decided on a child (Chaudron, Klein, Remington, Palta, Allen, & Essex, 2001). This is especially true for women of this age who do not have it all and are looking for the self-sufficiency and autonomy that they feel that they need, are looking to deal with major issues that they may have in a particular relationship, or are still trying to find a career and a comfort level that suits them (Dennis, 2004)
While many women realize that this is not true with a look at it logically, they still have a strong need to be a mother and fulfill the role that many of them believe they were created for. Erickson should also be addressed, as his Stages of Development have much to do with women and how they perceive having children (Erickson, 1963)
Women who find themselves pregnant often find a little bit of rest from much of this stress and they look for new ways to either avoid these stressors in the future or find different ways to react to them so that once the baby is born they are not rushing back into the life that they had full speed ahead and not taking time for the baby and for themselves as well (McVeigh, 1997). Unfortunately, women who wait until they are older to have children sometimes have extra problems with this issue (Fowles, 1998)
Presentation of the Problem Women who become first-time mothers at the age of 35 have usually spent time in their careers, have developed solid and lasting relationships in their lives, and have experienced the autonomy of being able to do things on their own (Milligan, Lenz, Parks, Pugh, & Kitzman, 1996). Many of these women then decide that a child is what they need to make their life complete because they have already had the other things in life that they wanted to achieve, such as a career (Jannke, 1992)
Nursing Management of the Problem The theoretical framework for this issue and the way that nurses address it should deal with three individuals and their beliefs. Imogene King and the Theory of Goal Attainment is very important for many of these mothers because they believe that dealing with everything that they already have in their lives and having a child is one more goal that they wish to achieve (King, 1991)
These women, when they become first-time mothers over the age of 35 or particularly over the age of 40, often see this bearing of a child as a great source of upheaval in their lives (Bozoky & Corwin, 2001). It is hard for these women to be happy with what they have done and even though they love their children it is often difficult for them to truly be happy (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2002)
Stress begins to work on these individuals and even though they may be coping quite well in a physical sense this does not mean that they are doing well emotionally, and this is especially true of those of low socioeconomic status or ethnic minority that might not get the care that they truly need and sometimes tend to have larger families (Templeton, Velleman, Persaud, & Milner, 2003). Women who find themselves pregnant often find a little bit of rest from much of this stress and they look for new ways to either avoid these stressors in the future or find different ways to react to them so that once the baby is born they are not rushing back into the life that they had full speed ahead and not taking time for the baby and for themselves as well (McVeigh, 1997)
Because of this, they often refuse to admit that they have difficulty with postpartum depression or fatigue because it would make them appear that they have not reached their goal. Mercer and the Maternal Role Attainment should also be part of an understanding by nurses when it comes to this problem because many women feel that this maternal role is part of what makes them whole and they must attain it to be complete individuals (Mercer, 1985)
This is, naturally, a very serious concern and because of this it is necessary to look into this issue and determine what can be done to reduce the risk of these types of things happening to these women and their brand new babies. Presentation of the Problem Women who become first-time mothers at the age of 35 have usually spent time in their careers, have developed solid and lasting relationships in their lives, and have experienced the autonomy of being able to do things on their own (Milligan, Lenz, Parks, Pugh, & Kitzman, 1996)
They are often frightened by the appetites that they have, the way that they gain weight during pregnancy, and many of the other feelings and thoughts that they have as their bodies and hormones change (Cronin, 2003). Because these women are older and more set in the ways that they do things they are often fearful of these changes and resistant to them because they feel that they have no control over anything anymore (Priel & Besser, 1999)
When women get married, the amount of unpaid labor that they do increases by approximately 60% and this goes up to 91% when this woman has a child (Beck, 2002). Stress begins to work on these individuals and even though they may be coping quite well in a physical sense this does not mean that they are doing well emotionally, and this is especially true of those of low socioeconomic status or ethnic minority that might not get the care that they truly need and sometimes tend to have larger families (Templeton, Velleman, Persaud, & Milner, 2003)
Because these women are older and more set in the ways that they do things they are often fearful of these changes and resistant to them because they feel that they have no control over anything anymore (Priel & Besser, 1999). They are working towards a transition that marks the middle of their life and they are used to having everything that they need (Windridge & Berryman, 1999)