Abstract:

In order to determine the level of postpartum depression, the experience of hopelessness following child birth, and the effect of depression on motherhood this prospective study was undertaken in the postpartum Services of Zeynep Kamil Women and Child Hospital. After the aim of the study was informed to ali volunteers, 173 postpartum women, who gave live birth in the same hospital during the period of February 01 2002 - May 31 2002 participated in the research study. On the third day following childbirth, Beck's depression scale, Beck's hopelessness scale and a questionnaire, consisting of demographic, obstetrical features and factors associated with postpartum depression were applied each participant. After the initial data was evaluated, 8 women with Beck's depression scale score above 20 were interviewed by telephone and were asked for the events that they had experienced in the 4th month of postpartum period. Of 15.7 % participants (n=27) had higher depression scores after birth. Observed that mother ship experience was adversely affected and prolonged findings of depression were seen in mothers with high depression scores. It has been observed that mothership experience was adversely affected and prolonged findings of depression were seen in mothers with high depression scores.

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