Men and Depression After Childbirth: What You Need to Know

I sincerely understand that having a newborn baby is not easy. My wife and I need to consider things, especially now that all our attention, energy, time, and effort tend to double. We both need to do our best to keep our newborns safe and sound all the time.

However, despite all the happiness I know I have to feel in parenting, I still have this weird feeling that things are not okay. No. This situation is all mine; my wife and kids don’t need to be concerned. It’s an issue that I’m facing alone. I get to feel this emotional roller coaster that I am not familiar with. The combination of emotions and thoughts keeps bringing me to the brink of depression, postpartum, health, and confusion. And sometimes, I get distracted by my goal, and I question what my goal is exactly.

Importance of Discussing Male Postpartum Depression

What is the cause of this person’s behavior: a change of heart or a mental illness?

I am aware that my wife and I now have a baby (thank God we don’t have any infertility issues), which requires many responsibilities. But in all honesty, I somehow feel like I am not truly happy. Despite feeling unprepared and uncertain, I am determined to prove those who might think of me as the worst person wrong by becoming a great father. It is not that I don’t want to, but something at the back of my mind tells me I’m not worthy, incapable, unreliable, and all sorts of those negative stuff.  Those things linger in my head, and I can’t seem to take them all away. What is happening to me? I don’t understand these negative thoughts and emotions, but I know I am not myself.

Certainly, this particular thing that is happening to me is not a change of heart. There is no way I can be unhappy with my wife and child. Luckily, I found out that all this emotional and mental torture is part of a mental illness known to women. Unfortunately, I never expected that men could also experience this so-called postpartum depression.

What Are The Possible Causes Of Postpartum Depression In Parents?

Postpartum or also known as “baby blues,” is common to moms after childbirth. It commonly includes crying spells, affective mood swings, anxiety, and poor concentration. Some symptoms include anger, fatigue, a change in appetite, and an increase in impulsiveness. Other patients with postpartum psychosis turn to substances like alcohol or prescription drugs to self-medicate the symptoms of their affective disorder. Usually, it originates from a dramatic drop in the body’s level of hormones, specifically progesterone and estrogen. Other factors are prenatal depression disorder, seasonal affective disorder, high life stress, marital issues, lack of sleep, weight gain, recent loss or mental trauma, and current or past abuse. Postpartum can leave sluggish and depressed feelings that are often irritably unexplainable.

Though that description only defines common symptoms for women, I, unfortunately, do experience some of the depression symptoms right now. Therefore, I can say that postpartum is exclusive for my wife and affects me.

What are some strategies for new dads to deal with stress?

For a new parent, welcoming a baby into the world can come with intense emotions. From embracing life-changing moments together to experiencing joy and sometimes exhaustion as they toe their way through parenthood for the first time – it’s all part of this beautiful journey. A dad needs to understand lots of things and exert extra effort to keep things intact, especially when taking care of his newborn and wife. If there’s a chance, a new dad should talk about how his daily life and relationship often. That way, he can encourage and prepare himself for the upcoming challenges of daylight hours of fatherhood.

How Can You Prevent Postpartum?

Despite the fact that postpartum depression and paternal postpartum depression can be difficult to cope with, there are so many ways for moms and dads alike to manage them! With a bit of support from family or friends – or through professional help, if needed – finding relief is possible. First, you should educate yourself about what postpartum depression is all about and learn how it affects your life and everyone’s lives. It is entirely essential to avoid making major life changes during or right after childbirth. It is okay to vent out and express your pain, thoughts, and feelings during or right after the delivery. But it would help if you enlisted good support during birthing, especially when dealing with depression and anxiety such as paternal postpartum depression in men. You have to surround yourself with positive people who will care and stick with you during and after this amazing moment in your life.

What is the difference between peripartum and postpartum depression?

Peripartum psychosis applies to a significant mental health issue, particularly depression, during pregnancy or within four weeks following the baby’s delivery. Postpartum depression, on the other hand, refers to major depressive symptoms that occur in the first six weeks after giving birth. It is an intense and crucial moment that necessitates all sorts of care, with a primary focus on the mother’s and the baby’s health and well-being. In addition, it’s essential to consider issues such as loss of interest and male postpartum experiences to provide comprehensive support.

 Can A Woman Go Crazy After Giving Birth?

Unfortunately, in some instances, the answer is yes. Postpartum psychosis, though a rare condition, tends to be a serious mental health illness that affects a woman soon after having a baby. However, primary health care during the postpartum period is crucial in recognizing and addressing such mental health conditions. But usually, the whole birth-giving scenario only brings mild mood changes, known as the baby blues. For some new moms, this is normal and usually lasts only for a couple of days.

 Is It Normal To Cry A Lot After Having A Baby?

There is a roller coaster of emotions right after giving birth, and that is entirely normal. Getting overwhelmed and crying a lot in the days after giving birth is what most moms usually do. However, if the overwhelming feelings tend to stay longer than expected and probably cause a toll on the mom’s life, it is vital to seek professional medical advice and treatment. That is because the feeling of being unable to cope for more than ten days after giving birth might sign postpartum depression. Mental health experts will determine the diagnosis. Tools, such as Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, can also be used to support the diagnosis.

 What Causes Postpartum Psychosis?

There is not enough proof that shows what commonly causes postpartum psychosis in women right after giving birth. However, a new mom is more at risk if she has a family history of mental health illness. These include a health diagnosis of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and a negatively traumatic birth or pregnancy experience.

What is the time frame for anxiety after having a baby?

Feelings of stress, sadness, and anxiety can escalate right after giving birth. These negative emotions are more persistent for some new moms than the joy and delight of holding their child. People consider it an experience as “baby blues” or the normal part of postpartum recovery. It usually goes away 1–2 weeks after the successful delivery.

What Is A Postpartum Woman?

In terms of the puerperium or puerperal period, which refer to the time after childbirth, it is also recognized as “baby blues” and usually starts immediately after childbirth as the mother’s body, including uterus size and hormone levels, returns to a non-pregnant condition. For many new moms, the baby blues go away in about 3 to 5 days. However, if it does not, and the feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness persist longer than two weeks, it tends to become postpartum depression. When it comes to male postpartum depression and its risk factors, it’s important to acknowledge that new dads can also experience this condition alongside mothers.

How do dads feel when the baby is born?

New dads also experience overwhelming emotions when their “new baby” is born. But unlike new moms, they don’t always feel fuzzy and warm at first. Fathers often don’t have the same love-at-first-sight experience with their babies as their mothers do. Perhaps that is because they do not share the same pregnancy experience as women.

 Do Newborns Know Their Mothers?

Yes. A baby can immediately recognize his or her mother’s face, smell, and voice right from birth. The babies respond to their instinct well. It is as if they already knew how their senses function even before they learned to use them. That explains why parents are highly recommended and advised to talk to their newborns.

 Do Newborns Know Who Their Father Is?

Unfortunately, there are no studies and enough evidence that evaluate whether babies can recognize their fathers or not. Newborn babies have blurry vision, and by the moment they are a few weeks old, that is the only time they can recognize their parents’ faces. However, some claim that these babies can already identify their parents through their voices’ smell and sound.

 How Long Does It Take To Recover And Feel Normal After Pregnancy?

A full recovery from pregnancy and childbirth is different from one person to another. Usually, coping with pregnancy can take quite a few months. Some mothers feel that they are almost recovered by 6-8 weeks. However, it may take longer to feel like they are back with themselves again when it comes to the mental and emotional parts.

 How Does Pregnancy Affect Mental Health?

Women may feel more stressed, anxious, and vulnerable during their pregnancy. Some may develop major depressive episodes, injuries, diseases, and other physical problems that often contribute to poor mental health and sometimes mental disorders. Some physical causes, such as birth trauma, can directly affect brain chemistry, leading to mental dysfunction.

Takeaway

Never assume that mental illness is gender-based because it is not. Postpartum depression, though most common in women, can also affect men. Thus, if you notice that you are experiencing the symptoms, get help immediately from a doctor or a mental health expert. Postpartum depression is curable. With proper treatment, like talk therapy, light therapy, and medication, symptoms of postpartum depression usually improve.

 

What Are Some Ways For New Fathers To Cope With Stress And Frustration?