MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2022;47(2):77-84. doi: 10.1097/NMC.0000000000000802.
To identify postpartum depression risk and describe experiences of women in the first 6 weeks after giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using a convergent mixed-methods approach, we recruited a convenience sample of women living in the United States who gave birth March 1, 2020 or later from social media Web sites. Participants completed the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale-Short Form and provided written answers to open-ended questions regarding their experiences at home with their new infant.
Our 262 participants were on average 32.6 years of age, the majority were White (82%), married or partnered (91.9%), and college educated (87.4%). Mean postpartum depression score was 17.7 (SD = 5.9) with 75% scoring ≥14, indicating significant postpartum depressive symptoms. Qualitative content analysis revealed five themes: Isolation and seclusion continue; Fear, anxiety, and stress filled the days; Grieving the loss of normal: It's just so sad; Complicated by postpartum depression: A dark time; and There is a silver lining. Quantitative and qualitative findings provided a holistic view of women's depressive symptoms and experiences at home with their infants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although policies that reduce risk of COVID-19 exposure and infection for patients and the health care team must continue to be implemented, the adverse effects of depressive symptoms on maternal-infant wellbeing within the context of increased isolation due to the pandemic need to be kept at the forefront. Nurses need to be aware of the consequences of women sheltering in place and social distancing on maternal-infant outcomes, particularly on depression and likelihood of breastfeeding.
识别产后抑郁症的风险，并描述在 COVID-19 大流行期间分娩后 6 周内女性的经历。
采用汇聚式混合方法，我们从社交媒体网站上招募了居住在美国的、在 2020 年 3 月 1 日或之后分娩的便利样本女性。参与者完成了产后抑郁筛查量表-短表，并就她们在家与新生儿的经历提供了关于开放式问题的书面答案。
我们的 262 名参与者平均年龄为 32.6 岁，大多数为白人（82%）、已婚或伴侣（91.9%）和大学学历（87.4%）。产后抑郁评分平均为 17.7（SD=5.9），75%的评分≥14，表明有明显的产后抑郁症状。定性内容分析揭示了五个主题：孤立和隐居持续；充满恐惧、焦虑和压力的日子；哀悼正常的丧失：太可悲了；因产后抑郁症而复杂化：黑暗的时光；以及有一线希望。定量和定性研究结果提供了一个全面的视角，了解了 COVID-19 大流行期间女性在家与新生儿的抑郁症状和经历。
尽管必须继续实施旨在降低患者和医疗团队感染 COVID-19 风险的政策，但必须将大流行期间因隔离而增加导致的抑郁症状对母婴健康的不良影响放在首位。护士需要意识到女性在避难所和保持社交距离对母婴结局的影响，特别是对抑郁和母乳喂养的可能性的影响。
