Maternal Well-being & Emotional Support Flashcards
7 cards from real PMH-C practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Maternal Well-being & Emotional Support flashcards as text
A client at 32 weeks gestation reports feeling emotionally numb, detached from her pregnancy, and unable to imagine herself as a mother. Which condition does this presentation most suggest?
Answer: Prenatal depression with anhedonia
Emotional numbness, detachment, and inability to bond with the pregnancy are hallmark features of prenatal depression, particularly the anhedonic subtype.
When using the EPDS with a postpartum client who scores 13, what is the most appropriate immediate clinical action?
Answer: Conduct a thorough clinical interview including suicide risk assessment
An EPDS score of 13 or above warrants a detailed clinical interview to assess symptom severity, functioning, and safety before determining the appropriate level of care.
A nurse asks how to differentiate postpartum blues from postpartum depression. The most accurate distinguishing factor is:
Answer: Duration and functional impairment beyond two weeks postpartum
Postpartum blues typically resolve within 10–14 days without functional impairment, whereas postpartum depression persists beyond two weeks and significantly affects daily functioning.
A lactating client with postpartum depression asks about medication safety. Which statement about SSRIs and breastfeeding is most accurate?
Answer: Sertraline and paroxetine have the lowest detectable levels in breast milk and are preferred
Sertraline and paroxetine are considered first-line SSRI options during lactation because they have the lowest relative infant doses detected in breast milk.
Which therapeutic approach has the strongest evidence base for treating postpartum depression in a non-pharmacological context?
Answer: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT has the strongest evidence base among non-pharmacological treatments for postpartum depression, targeting negative thought patterns and maladaptive behaviors.
A postpartum client reports intrusive thoughts of dropping her baby and feels terrified she will act on them. She has no intent to harm. This presentation is most consistent with:
Answer: Postpartum OCD
Ego-dystonic intrusive thoughts with no intent to act, accompanied by significant distress and fear of acting on them, are characteristic of postpartum OCD rather than psychosis.
Social support is considered a critical protective factor against perinatal mood disorders. Which specific dimension of social support is most consistently linked to reduced postpartum depression risk?
Answer: Emotional support and partner relationship satisfaction
Research consistently identifies emotional support quality, particularly partner relationship satisfaction, as the strongest social support factor protective against postpartum depression.