Nursing Diagnosis

Expected
Outcome
Risk for Ineffective After
Coping Related to
implementation
Depression in
of nursing care,
response to stressors client will
associated with
verbalize feelings
childbirth and
with the
parenting
significant other
and health care
provider
throughout the
postpartum
period

Nursing Implementation

Rationale

1. Active-listen and identify clients

perceptions of current situation.

1. To assess clients coping abilities and evaluate her ability to

understand present situation.

2. Encourage significant other (SO) to

spend time with the client.

2. One of the best strategy to help mothers decrease their well-being

during the postpartum period is conveying a caring attitude. This is
demonstrated by the SO spending quality time with her.
3. Frequent contact with other adults (SO or close friend) keeps away
feelings of isolation.

3. Emphasize the need for continued

communication with the partner or a
close friend who is available to provide
support when loneliness or anxiety
becomes a problem.
4. Encourage verbalization of fears and
anxieties and expressions of feelings
depression.
5. Discuss the realities of parenting and
the fact that it may be exhausting. It
may be helpful to rehearse some of
the situations that may occur such as a
fussy baby or being home alone.
6. Point out infant cues and explain their
meaning. Suggest measures that may
enhance her sensitivity to infant cues.
7. Include the spouse in discussions
about the womans condition. Offer
practical ways the spouse can help the
new mother manage the changes in
their lives.
8. Emphasize the importance of the
mother taking the medication as
ordered.
9. Assist the mother and her partner in
identifying people who are available to
provide support.

4. Allowing the client to vent out negative feelings helps meet the new
mothers psychological needs. It is important to recommend to her
though, to acknowledge these negative feelings.
5. This is a good way to help the woman develop perspective and accept
her new role as a mother.

6. Model behavior to show the mother how to respond to the infants

cues can help her be more sensitive to her infants needs. This helps
her feel better about herself and her ability to care for the infant.
7. The way the spouse responds and handles the situation can affect the
woman positively or negatively.

8. Antidepressants are often used for PPD and may be continued for 6
months or more.
9. Depression responds best to a combination of psychotherapy, social
support and medication. It is important to identify other support
people (apart from the spouse) to serve as the womans social
support.