Perinatal is a comprehensive term that refers to the entire duration of pregnancy: the period before the child is born beginning at conception (the prenatal phase) and the first twelve months after delivery (postnatal). Naturally, topics related to mental health during and after pregnancy tend to revolve around the mother. (Postpartum health, which specifically refers to the health of the mother after birth, is a well-researched and well-known issue.)
However, research has found it’s not just mothers who experience mental health issues during and after pregnancy like the baby blues and even postpartum depression, highlighting the need for greater attention to the matter of perinatal mental health care that’s inclusive to the needs of both parents before and after childbirth.
How common are perinatal mental health issues in fathers?
Pregnancy-related mental illnesses can be extremely detrimental to the relationship between parent and child as well as one’s romantic partner. It’s estimated that about 8 in 10 experience mood swings or negative feelings during or immediately after pregnancy.
Despite the vast majority of research only looking at the prevalence of perinatal mental health issues in women, latest findings have revealed that their support partners — fathers, parents of surrogate-born children, and even adoptive parents — can also be affected by pregnancy-related mental illness.
Baby blues
It’s extremely common to experience a sharp dip in mood shortly after a child is born, this is commonly known as the “baby blues”. This mood shift is due to a drastic change in hormones immediately following birth. For new mothers, levels of estrogen, progesterone, and sometimes the thyroid, suddenly decrease after delivery. However, there are hormonal changes in male partners which can contribute to postnatal mood swings.
In men, testosterone levels decrease and estrogen increases and other mood-affecting hormones like cortisol and prolactin may also change and contribute to feelings of depression. Unlike women, these mood changes don’t usually occur immediately after birth, instead taking place about 3-6 months after delivery, and in some cases occurring nearly a year later. Baby blues aren’t as prevalent in men as women, occurring in only about 10% of fathers, but are still regularly occurring phenomena that can be debilitating if untreated.
Postpartum depression (PPD)
Baby blues are different from postpartum depression in that it’s temporary, only lasting a few days, and typically resolves on its own. Postpartum depression is a condition that can last for months and years if left untreated.
Of all perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, perinatal depression is the most common complication of childbirth for both men and women. One study found that as many as 1 out of every 4 new fathers develop postpartum depression, though this number is actually much higher.
Since pregnancy-related depression is still widely believed to only affect pregnant individuals, fathers and other support partners often fail to recognize their own symptoms and seek help. Those who do recognize that something is wrong may also fail to act out of a sense of guilt or inadequacy compared to what the birth mother is going through. Social stigma, cultural norms, or gender norms may also discourage a father from acknowledging mental health struggles.
Symptoms can include anger and irritability, failing to support their partner, or actively discouraging the birth mother from breastfeeding. Men with PPD have also been shown to behave violently towards their partners and turn to substance abuse. A support partner experiencing postpartum depression heightens the risk of perinatal mental illness in the mother, can impair the growth development of the child, or lead to harm to the health of the mother and the child.
3 Ways to support perinatal mental health for both parents
- Free phone hotline
New parents, both mothers and fathers, can call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for free at 1-833-TLC-MAMA. You can quickly connect with a real person for confidential support and advice 24/7.
- Educate yourself
One of the biggest drivers behind a lack of perinatal health care is simply being unaware of the risks. Free online tools like YoMingo offer self-directed lessons for both mothers and fathers about infant care and recognizing mental health risks.
- Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Intrapersonal psychotherapy (IPT) are two popular therapy modalities used to address perinatal mental illness and can include the child after it has been born,
Tell your doctor if you’ve experienced depression before getting pregnant
One of the greatest risk factors to perinatal mental health is pre-existing or past mental health issues. Prior instances can significantly increase the likelihood of baby blues or postpartum depression. If one or both parents are at risk, consider talking to a mental health professional in Port St. Lucie before your child is born to better prepare for the emotional changes ahead.
https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/postpartum/baby-blues-after-pregnancy
Michaela Welk, LMHC
Bunny Berman
Tank
Richard E. LoSardo, MD
Christopher Payne
Bernard Benjamin
Tiffany Bellino