Postpartum depression isn't just for women. Doctors say dads can get it with factors like fear of fatherhood and financial worries. 7Healthcast reporter Dr. Deanna Lites is here more on dads dealing with postpartum depression.
It's an exhilarating times in a new parent's life, but 10 ten percent of the time that exhilaration can be replaced by devastating depression in moms because of the sudden change in hormones after the baby is born. More surprising, though, a type of postpartum depression in dads.
"One day you're not a father, the next day you are, and that can throw fathers for a loop," researcher Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz said.
Dr. Abramowitz is a father of two.
"So, for example, my oldest daughter, after she was born, I can recall burping her, you know, giving her a bottle in the middle of the night. You know my wife's asleep and I'm burping her after giving her the bottle and I just got this intrusive thought of what if I would just reared back and whacked her, it would be terrible," Dr. Abramowitz said.
He stopped himself, and decided instead to study the problem. His study found that 60-70 percent of new parents reported having unwanted thoughts, which can lead to depression.
Symptoms to look out for include: mood swings, fatigue, loss of appetite, sadness and diminished interest in activities
So what can you do? Ease the pressure on yourself. Talk with your spouse about it, she may understand it better than you think. Also, take time to be a couple. Best advise, though, talk about it because too many dads don't.
While a lot of these symptoms are common in new parents, if they last longer than two weeks, and prevent you from functioning normally, dads may want to consider seeing a medical professional.
http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/healthcast/DBB1856/
It's an exhilarating times in a new parent's life, but 10 ten percent of the time that exhilaration can be replaced by devastating depression in moms because of the sudden change in hormones after the baby is born. More surprising, though, a type of postpartum depression in dads.
"One day you're not a father, the next day you are, and that can throw fathers for a loop," researcher Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz said.
Dr. Abramowitz is a father of two.
"So, for example, my oldest daughter, after she was born, I can recall burping her, you know, giving her a bottle in the middle of the night. You know my wife's asleep and I'm burping her after giving her the bottle and I just got this intrusive thought of what if I would just reared back and whacked her, it would be terrible," Dr. Abramowitz said.
He stopped himself, and decided instead to study the problem. His study found that 60-70 percent of new parents reported having unwanted thoughts, which can lead to depression.
Symptoms to look out for include: mood swings, fatigue, loss of appetite, sadness and diminished interest in activities
So what can you do? Ease the pressure on yourself. Talk with your spouse about it, she may understand it better than you think. Also, take time to be a couple. Best advise, though, talk about it because too many dads don't.
While a lot of these symptoms are common in new parents, if they last longer than two weeks, and prevent you from functioning normally, dads may want to consider seeing a medical professional.
http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/healthcast/DBB1856/
