Postpartum depression in parents

Although they have been talking about this issue for years, it has not been until recent studies when it has been shown that postpartum depression is not the exclusive preserve of mothers, but up to 10% of parents he gets to suffer it and, in most cases, with a duration longer than that of the mothe

Although they have been talking about this issue for years, it has not been until recent studies when it has been shown that postpartum depression is not the exclusive preserve of mothers, but up to 10% of parents he gets to suffer it and, in most cases, with a duration longer than that of the mother.

Maternal postpartum depression is mainly due to the hormonal chaos that we experience when we give birth, and it usually appears after the first days of birth, lasting only a few weeks; however, the postpartum depression of parents occurs in very different situations.

Can parents have postpartum depression?

First, it usually appears much later, between the third and sixth months of the baby, and is not associated with a hormonal imbalance, but other factors that develop it. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to be aggravated by the fact that men do not usually express their feelings as openly as women, which means that they have to suffer in silence without help from anyone.

The triggers are usually due to several reasons:

1- Fear of paternity: New responsibilities as a parent and the fear of knowing if they will be able to take care of the baby are one of the main reasons.

2- Changes in marital life: The attention of the mother that was previously exclusively for them, is now shared with the baby, and sometimes it can cause jealousy, even a feeling of abandonment on the part of the father. In addition, sexual relations take a back seat, since many women do not feel comfortable with their body after childbirth.

3- Lack of sleep, changes in the house and stress: Do not sleep enough hours for anyone, and this is aggravated because the work in the house multiplies, we no longer have the same hours of rest and the baby requires constantly time and attention.

4- Financial worries: Expenses grow and that becomes a constant concern for having to live with the same income as before.

The most common symptoms of this type of depression is: estrangement from the couple, irritability, intolerance, insomnia, sadness or refuge outdoors (friends or work), and the worst is that they can last up to a year, when it starts to feel more focused with the new family situation.

The consequences for the father can be very negative, since his mood will not only affect him personally, but also affect the family, especially the development of the baby. A depressed father will stop doing things with his son like reading stories, singing to him, laughing with him, enjoying his growth, sharing news with the family, it will be more introspective, and even, in situations of high stress, he can punish or get to hit the child.

If this is your case, or that of your partner, try to open up to the family and express what you feel, you will feel supported and understood, together you will be able to get through that hole, and if it is not, you should not hesitate to go to a Specialist, fatherhood is something very beautiful that you should enjoy in all its fullness.