OB NURS 306 Study Guide for
Week 4 Content
o Transition to Parenthood
o Role Transition to Motherhood/Fatherhood
▪ Motherhood ▪ Fatherhood
Mercer describes four stages In general, men do not fantasize about being a father, nor
■ Commitment, attachment, and preparation for do they role-play being a father during childhood
an infant during pregnancy The meaning of “father” varies based on the
■ Acquaintance with and increasing attachment man’s interpretation of the role and its
to the infant, learning how to care for the infant, expectations and responsibilities.
and physical restoration during the early weeks This is influenced by:
after birth ■ How he was fathered
■ Moving toward a new normal during the first ■ How his culture defines the role
4 months ■ In some cultures, men are not expected to be involved
■ Achievement of a maternal identity around 4 in the birthing process and/or care of the newborn.
months ■ By friends and family, and by his partner.
Factors that influence the man’s transition to fatherhood are:
■ Developmental and emotional age
■ Cultural expectations
■ Relationship with his partner/wife
■ Knowledge and understanding of fatherhood
■ Previous experiences as a father
■ The manner in which he was fathered
■ Financial concerns
■ Support from partner/wife, friends, and family
, o Special populations: Adolescent parents
▪ Adolescence is the transition between childhood and Adulthood + working through the developmental
tasks of being a teenager (Erik Erikson: identity vs role confusion)
▪ Less experiences to none
o Signs of normal bonding and attachment
▪ BONDING: directional baby emotional feelings that begin during pregnancy
▪ ATTACHMENT: bidirectional ↔ emotional connection between both
▪ When to intervene when it is abnormal
■ Expected assessment findings:
o ■ Parents hold the infant close.
o ■ Parents refer to the infant by name or proper sex.
o ■ Parents respond to the infant’s needs.
o ■ Parents speak positively about the infant.
o ■ Parents appear interested in learning about the infant.
o ■ Parents ask appropriate questions about infant care.
o ■ Parents appear comfortable holding and caring for the infant.
■ Maladaptive assessment findings:
o ■ Parents call the infant “it.”
o ■ Parents avoid eye contact with the infant
(this can be viewed as adaptive based on culture).
o ■ Parents do not respond to the infant’s cries. (ignores the baby)
o ■ Parents are emotionally unavailable to the infant.
o ■ Parents allow others to care for the infant, showing no
interest (this can be viewed as adaptive based on
culture).
o ■ Parents demonstrate poor feeding techniques such as
propping bottles, not burping the infant, or seeming to
be uncomfortable and/or irritated when nursing.
o Postpartum Blues vs Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Blues Postpartum Depression
*aka Baby Blues Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder characterized by severe depression
occur during the first 2 postpartum that:
weeks, last for a few days -occurs within the first 6–12 months postpartum.
- occurs in 14.5% of postpartum women
Occurs or affects a majority of PPD is classified as a major depressive disorder when the woman has a depressed mood
women. or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities for at least 2 weeks plus four of the
following symptoms:
*feels sad and cries easily, but she is ■ Significant weight loss or gain: a change of more than 5% of body weight in 1 month
able to take care of herself and her ■ Insomnia or hypersomnia
infant (seek help after 4 weeks) ■ Changes in psychomotor activity: agitation or retardation
■ Decreased energy or fatigue
Possible causes of postpartum blues are: ■ Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
■ Changes in hormonal levels ■ Decreased ability to concentrate; inability to make decisions
■ Fatigue ■ Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide attempt
■ Stress from taking on the new role of ■ A major difference between postpartum blues and PPD is
mother that PPD is disabling; the woman is unable to care for herself and/or her baby
■ Requires psychiatric intervention & unable to care for herself and/or her baby
Signs and symptoms of postpartum • Signs & Symptoms
blues are: ■ Sleep and appetite disturbance
■ Anger ■Anxiety, ■ Fatigue greater than expected for caring for a newborn
■ Mood swings ■ Impatience ■ Despondency (low spirit, low hope) Hopelessness
■ Sadness ■ Weeping, ■ Crying ■ Uncontrolled crying
■ Difficulty sleeping ■ Anxiety, fear, and/or panic
■ Difficulty concentrating ■ Inability to concentrate
■ Difficulty eating ■ Feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and/or worthlessness
■ Feeling “I’m not myself” ■ Inability to care for self-and/or baby
■ Restlessness ■ Decreased affectionate contact with the infant
Week 4 Content
o Transition to Parenthood
o Role Transition to Motherhood/Fatherhood
▪ Motherhood ▪ Fatherhood
Mercer describes four stages In general, men do not fantasize about being a father, nor
■ Commitment, attachment, and preparation for do they role-play being a father during childhood
an infant during pregnancy The meaning of “father” varies based on the
■ Acquaintance with and increasing attachment man’s interpretation of the role and its
to the infant, learning how to care for the infant, expectations and responsibilities.
and physical restoration during the early weeks This is influenced by:
after birth ■ How he was fathered
■ Moving toward a new normal during the first ■ How his culture defines the role
4 months ■ In some cultures, men are not expected to be involved
■ Achievement of a maternal identity around 4 in the birthing process and/or care of the newborn.
months ■ By friends and family, and by his partner.
Factors that influence the man’s transition to fatherhood are:
■ Developmental and emotional age
■ Cultural expectations
■ Relationship with his partner/wife
■ Knowledge and understanding of fatherhood
■ Previous experiences as a father
■ The manner in which he was fathered
■ Financial concerns
■ Support from partner/wife, friends, and family
, o Special populations: Adolescent parents
▪ Adolescence is the transition between childhood and Adulthood + working through the developmental
tasks of being a teenager (Erik Erikson: identity vs role confusion)
▪ Less experiences to none
o Signs of normal bonding and attachment
▪ BONDING: directional baby emotional feelings that begin during pregnancy
▪ ATTACHMENT: bidirectional ↔ emotional connection between both
▪ When to intervene when it is abnormal
■ Expected assessment findings:
o ■ Parents hold the infant close.
o ■ Parents refer to the infant by name or proper sex.
o ■ Parents respond to the infant’s needs.
o ■ Parents speak positively about the infant.
o ■ Parents appear interested in learning about the infant.
o ■ Parents ask appropriate questions about infant care.
o ■ Parents appear comfortable holding and caring for the infant.
■ Maladaptive assessment findings:
o ■ Parents call the infant “it.”
o ■ Parents avoid eye contact with the infant
(this can be viewed as adaptive based on culture).
o ■ Parents do not respond to the infant’s cries. (ignores the baby)
o ■ Parents are emotionally unavailable to the infant.
o ■ Parents allow others to care for the infant, showing no
interest (this can be viewed as adaptive based on
culture).
o ■ Parents demonstrate poor feeding techniques such as
propping bottles, not burping the infant, or seeming to
be uncomfortable and/or irritated when nursing.
o Postpartum Blues vs Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Blues Postpartum Depression
*aka Baby Blues Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder characterized by severe depression
occur during the first 2 postpartum that:
weeks, last for a few days -occurs within the first 6–12 months postpartum.
- occurs in 14.5% of postpartum women
Occurs or affects a majority of PPD is classified as a major depressive disorder when the woman has a depressed mood
women. or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities for at least 2 weeks plus four of the
following symptoms:
*feels sad and cries easily, but she is ■ Significant weight loss or gain: a change of more than 5% of body weight in 1 month
able to take care of herself and her ■ Insomnia or hypersomnia
infant (seek help after 4 weeks) ■ Changes in psychomotor activity: agitation or retardation
■ Decreased energy or fatigue
Possible causes of postpartum blues are: ■ Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
■ Changes in hormonal levels ■ Decreased ability to concentrate; inability to make decisions
■ Fatigue ■ Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide attempt
■ Stress from taking on the new role of ■ A major difference between postpartum blues and PPD is
mother that PPD is disabling; the woman is unable to care for herself and/or her baby
■ Requires psychiatric intervention & unable to care for herself and/or her baby
Signs and symptoms of postpartum • Signs & Symptoms
blues are: ■ Sleep and appetite disturbance
■ Anger ■Anxiety, ■ Fatigue greater than expected for caring for a newborn
■ Mood swings ■ Impatience ■ Despondency (low spirit, low hope) Hopelessness
■ Sadness ■ Weeping, ■ Crying ■ Uncontrolled crying
■ Difficulty sleeping ■ Anxiety, fear, and/or panic
■ Difficulty concentrating ■ Inability to concentrate
■ Difficulty eating ■ Feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and/or worthlessness
■ Feeling “I’m not myself” ■ Inability to care for self-and/or baby
■ Restlessness ■ Decreased affectionate contact with the infant
