The nurse is preparing to discuss postpartum depression as a part of d

The nurse is preparing to discuss postpartum depression as a part of discharge teaching with the parents of a newborn. Which of the following nursing actions would be most therapeutic regard-ing early detection of this postpartum condition?

1. Helping the couple understand the importance of social interaction with other adults
2. Providing the couple with a video that tells the story of a new mother’s experi-ence with depression
3. Encouraging the couple to attend parenting classes designed to minimize the stressors of parenting an infant
4. Having a discussion with the father in which he identifies the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression

ANSWER

ANS: 4
Educating both new mothers and their families regarding the signs and symptoms of postpartum stress and depression will facilitate early detection and treatment of the condition. While pre-venting social isolation is important to the prevention of generalized depression, it has little im-pact on detecting the signs and symptoms of the condition. While the video may be informative it is not the most therapeutic option because it lacks interaction between the nurse and the clients. While Option 3 is appropriate in regard to minimizing the risk of developing depression stemming from postpartum stressors, it does not directly impact the identification of the signs and symp-toms of the condition.