Question

The nurse is assessing a new mother at the healthcare facility which symptom would the nurse identify as a symptom of postpartum blues

A) Extreme fatigue
B) Persistent sadness and hopelessness
C) Transient mood swings and tearfulness
D) Excessive worry about the baby's health

Answer 1

A nurse would identify transient mood swings and tearfulness as symptoms of postpartum blues. This condition is characterized by mild depressive symptoms and usually resolves within weeks. More severe symptoms might suggest postpartum depression.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse assessing a new mother at the healthcare facility would identify transient mood swings and tearfulness as a symptom of postpartum blues. Postpartum blues, often referred to as "baby blues," is a common condition affecting new mothers, characterized by mild depressive symptoms that usually resolve within a couple of weeks. Symptoms of postpartum blues can include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty sleeping, but these feelings typically come and go rather quickly.

Persistent sadness and hopelessness, excessive worry about the baby's health, and extreme fatigue can be signs of a more severe condition known as postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can present with more intense and long-lasting symptoms, including severe mood swings, withdrawal from family and friends, loss of appetite, overwhelming fatigue, intense irritability, and difficulty bonding with the baby.