A 24-year-old woman calls her obstetrician after giving birth to a healthy boy 5 days earlier. She reports feeling depressed and irritable: "I thought I would be thrilled to have a baby, but then I felt really disappointed it was not a girl and find myself crying constantly." The patient gets help from her sister during the day but is exhausted due to getting up at night to feed the baby. She says, "My sister is so helpful, but I can't help snapping at her for no reason. I get so worried that I won't be a decent mother." The patient has no medical or psychiatric history, and the pregnancy and delivery were unremarkable. She has no suicidal ideation or thoughts of harming the baby. In addition to providing support, which of the following is the most appropriate response to the patient?

Question

A 24-year-old woman calls her obstetrician after giving birth to a healthy boy 5 days earlier.  She reports feeling depressed and irritable: "I thought I would be thrilled to have a baby, but then I felt really disappointed it was not a girl and find myself crying constantly."  The patient gets help from her sister during the day but is exhausted due to getting up at night to feed the baby.  She says, "My sister is so helpful, but I can't help snapping at her for no reason.  I get so worried that I won't be a decent mother."  The patient has no medical or psychiatric history, and the pregnancy and delivery were unremarkable.  She has no suicidal ideation or thoughts of harming the baby.  In addition to providing support, which of the following is the most appropriate response to the patient?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Postpartum mood changes, often referred to as "baby blues," are common and typically resolve within two weeks. The patient should be monitored, and if symptoms persist or worsen, further evaluation may be necessary.

A 24-Year-Old Woman Calls Her Obstetrician After Giving Birth to a Healthy