The answer to this question may be surprising to many, but it is normal if you understand that they can also be affected by different factors. Here we tell you more details.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) describes that Postpartum depression is a severe emotional mental disorder that women experience during the first 4 months after the birth of their baby.. Its incidence to world level is 15% and is associated with suicide and filicide, the former being one of the most important causes of maternal death during the perinatal period.
In this article we explain in more detail what it is and what its symptoms are: .
However, it is not only experienced by women. As reported in ‘‘, the Statistics indicate that postpartum depression in men (known as paternal postpartum depression) can affect up to 1 in 4 fathers. And the figure increases to 1 in 2 if the couple has maternal postpartum depression.
Given this evidence, a published in the National Library of Medicine (NIH) recommends systematic screening for postpartum depression in both mothers and fathers.
What are your causes?
The Rafael A. Caparrós González and Mª Fe Rodriguez Muñoz identified in 2020 two groups of factors that predispose to this mood disorder: biological and psychological.
If we talk about the biologicalmale postpartum depression can be consequence of the decrease of several hormones, specifically testosterone, the stress hormone (cortisol), and oxytocinanother hormone related to good social relationships and pleasure during orgasm.
Regarding the factors psychological, The risk increases if the couple is experiencing postpartum depression. The incidence of this disorder increases if changes in the relationship, there is a lack of social supportfor example, not having an adequate network of family or friends, or if the father feels excluded from caring for the baby.
It may interest you:
As highlighted, the American Academy of Pediatrics It also establishes these symptoms:
- Difficulty for establish a bond attachment with the baby.
- Lack of a good male example.
- Changes in the marital relationshipjust like the couple’s lack of intimacy.
- Lack of remuneration of the breeding.
- Stress in it job either financial.
What are your symptoms?
- Sadness
- Crying
- Social isolation
- Repression of feelings of sadness.
- They do not express the discomfort
- Burden
- Feeling that no one remembers them
- Feeling of abandonment
- Resentment towards the baby
- Anxiety
- Suicidal ideas
- Irritability
- Impulsiveness
How to detect it?
To detect it in mothers, it is done through a questionnaire called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and, recently, Doctors have begun to do it to parents with the goal of early detection and to help provide support and treatment so that they remain present and participate positively with your family.
To read:
What are the consequences?
The consequences are different for the couple and the baby. As to The couple creates communication problems, increased aggression, gender violence, lack of interest in helping with breastfeeding and milk extraction, and even increased consumption of substances such as alcohol and drugs.
As for the baby, Interaction is severely reduced because they do not want to spend time with their sons and daughters, play, bathe them or provide any type of care.
This affects children in the future. It can be related to psychopathological disorders, eating problems, poorer brain developmentas some research studies suggest that paternal depression early in a child’s life puts him or her at risk for suffer developmental delays and even increase the risk of a child committing suicide.
What does the treatment consist of?
It can cover antidepressant medications, communication therapy and support from resources available in the community.
Sharing also works more time raising their babies, that is, participating, holding them, bathing them, changing their diapers, dressing them, singing them to sleep, playing, among other activities.
Another helpful strategy is to talk to your partner, family and friends about how you feel. And, if necessary, let them cry.
We also recommend: