IX.

Psychosocial Assessment
Coping
Appearance:
The mother expressed feelings of unresponsiveness, fatigue, and exhaustion
during her recovery from Cesarean delivery. According to her, she sometimes feels
stressed about taking care of her baby because she is still recovering from the
cesarean delivery. As stated by the mother, she knows the importance of personal
grooming and dressing appropriately for the weather. However, she finds it hard to
find time to tend for herself because she needs to tend for her baby first. She finds
time to groom herself when the baby is sleeping or when her partner is around.

Behavior:
During the interview, the mother answers questions slowly and calmly. She is
actively seeking assistance or emotional support from other family members. When
problems arise, she divides them into manageable chunks and works on them one at a
time, according to her.

Interactions
Maternal/Infant Bonding:
The mother speaks to her baby as if the child understands what she is saying. She
also keeps the baby close to her when the baby is hungry or crying, expressing a need
for attention, security, and comfort.

Support System:
The mother recognized that support is critical to her emotional and physical
recovery. Her partner's help is most needed and should be given without hesitation.
Her family can also provide assistance, which should be done voluntarily.

ANALYSIS:
The term ‘psychosocial assessment’ as used in this guideline refers to a comprehensive
assessment including an evaluation of needs and risk. This assessment includes the Coping and
Interaction of the mother and the newborn.

According to Reva Rubin’s Postpartum Phases which is the Maternal Role Taking
divided into 3 phases: Dependent phase, striving for independence, and independent phase, since
this is not her first time to have a baby. In the dependent phase, for 1-3 days after delivery the
mother exhibits fatigue and exhaustion manifested by passive and dependent behavior partly due
to her physical discomfort from possible afterpains. The mother also talks in a slow and calm
voice during the interview. In striving for independence (4th to 9th day postpartum) she feels
mood swings and responds to positive reinforcement such as the mother takes her maternal role
as a positive reinforcement despite the challenges she’s facing. For the last phase which is the
independent phase (10 days-6 weeks) the mother achieves independence and she accepts the
baby as a separate being and not a part of herself.

Determining coping skills is an important part of the psychosocial assessment. If the

nurse understands the patient's current coping techniques, they will provide better care by
fostering adaptive coping skills. Many women experience the “postpartum blues”, a well-
established phenomenon that has been characterized as a mild mood disruption that occurs
within the first ten days post-delivery (O’Keane, 2011). Symptoms of the postpartum blues
usually include stress, emotional lability, and fatigue, although temporary anxiety and confusion
are also common (O’Hara & McCabe, 2013). Racial/ethnic differences existed in the way
women from different groups mobilized support from their support networks.