Can Postpartum Depression Be Prevented With Care

A nursing care program was prepared for the intervention group under the guidance of Levine's conservation model. This program was applied with 7 home visits between the 8th and 80th postpartum days. Face-to-face training and training booklets were provided in home visits. As of the fourth home visit, Pilates exercises were performed. The women in the control group received routine care. Pretest and posttest data were collected with a personal data sheet, visual analogue scale for fatigue, Postpartum Physical Symptom Severity Scale, Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, and Postpartum Support Scale.

Sleep quality improved for the primiparous puerperal women of the intervention group. They had reduced postpartum fatigue and increased energy; maintained their structural, personal, and social integrity; and had decreased risk of developing postpartum depression with the holistic care provided (all p<0.001). A negative correlation was detected between the support subscale posttest total score from the Postpartum Support Scale and the posttest scores of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale for the women of the intervention group (r=-0.303; p<0.05)

Inclusion criteria

• primiparous;
• reading and understanding Turkish;
• normal term delivery;
• no risky situations during pregnancy or delivery;
• high score (≥65 points) from the Visual Analogue Scale to Evaluate Fatigue Severity (VAS-F),
• score of ≥12 points from the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS);
• episiotomy;
• hemoglobin value of at least 10.0 mg/dL;
• no current or past history of psychiatric illness.

Exclusion criteria

• inability to communicate
• unwillingness to participate in the research.