Postnatal Depression and anxiety and new dads
Often we focus on the new mother and their health and well being after giving birth.
It is just as key to be mindful of the new dads too.
1 in 20 new dads suffer from the male form of Post Natal Depression.
The only thing is, it isn’t frequently talked about.
The actual figures of male PND may be higher than these figures. These figures are just an estimate.
It is hard to have a true reflection of the amount of dads who suffer from PND as many suffer in silence.
While a mothers depression is largely a result of the depressive chemical changes from the process of childbirth, the father’s depression stems from the external forces of having a baby.
Rather worryingly though, that just as with mothers depression in dads has shown to damage children’s development and of course be detrimental to a dads health.
Studies have shown for example that if you’re depressed when your baby is 2 months old it can lead to the child most likely having behavioural disorders at 21 months.
This is irrespective of the behaviour of the mother, and more so with boys, according to a recent health report.
Some experts now believe that dads too should have a 6 week check up just like the mothers to check them as a lot of cases PND in dads is not being diagnosed.
Checklist for dad’s to monitor potential PND
If it is recommended that it you have 2 or more of these symptoms to see a doctor or visit a good support and informational website called www.beyondblue.org.au
Have you felt any of the following for more than 2 weeks?
- Felt down,miserable or unable to cope for most of the time?
- Lost interest or pleasure in your usual activities or in your child?
- Constantly tired or run down?
- Felt nervous about the future?
If so then you could be a depressed dad.
Please seek some help. It’s OK to ask for help.
