Male Post Natal Depression

Are you the father of a new baby? Are you finding the whole experience overwhelming? Have you lost your zest for life? Are you spending long days at work on purpose? Are you drinking more than usual?

If you answered yes to some of the above questions you may be suffering from depression after the birth of your baby.

There is a widespread belief that antenatal and postnatal depression is only experienced by women. Research and anecdotal evidence suggests that this is not the case. It is believed one in 14 men will experience depression during the antenatal and postnatal period, with some evidence suggesting that the figure could be as high as one in three. A dad whose partner is suffering from PND is at increased risk of developing depression in the postnatal period.

A friend of my who become a dad recently related to me how he was filled with pride and joy when he saw his baby for the first time, then he said reality set in, sleepless nights, screaming infant needing nearly constant care, sleep deprivation disagreements with his partner and going to work exhausted and a feeling of having to provide for his family.

Then over time things got worse, he lost his sense of humour and felt that there was not much to look forward to, had trouble sleeping and felt miserable a lot of the time. He was stressed at work and getting annoyed with his partner and started to withdraw from family and friends. He described to me a feeling of "low mood all the time". I advised him to see his GP who felt he was suffering from depression and started him on treatment.

Men often think that they should just "get over it" -and that they must be the only men suffering from it. But they are not the only ones. There have been some studies in UK, Australia and America One study looked at the records of over 8,000 fathers and found that two months after the birth, over 300 appeared to be suffering with depression. They then looked at the children of all the fathers, when they had reached the age of three-and-a-half, to see if they had developed any emotional and/or behavioural problems. They found that children whose fathers had suffered postnatal depression, were at an increased risk of behavioural problems between the ages of three and five. This was irrespective of other factors which may have influenced the results, including whether the mother had been depressed also.

The influence of fathers during early childhood has probably been underestimated in the past. However these findings indicate that postnatal depression in fathers has a 'specific and persisting impact' on children's early behavioural and emotional development. Another study found that 7% of men were suffering from depression after the birth of their child (average for men 3.75 -4%).

What are the Symptoms of Post Paternal Depression?

• Tiredness, headaches and pain

• Irritability, anxiety and anger

• Loss of libido

• Changes in appetite

• Feelings of being overwhelmed, out of control and unable to cope & engaging in risk taking behaviour

• Feelings of isolation and disconnection from partner, friends or family

• Withdrawal from intimate relationships and from family, friends and community life

• Increased hours of work as a part of the withdrawal from family etc.

• Increased use of drugs or alcohol instead of seeking treatment for depression

• Some fathers describe their experience of PND as being trapped, almost like pacing a cage, of feeling extremely alone in their situation and not knowing how to get out of it

• Other fathers experience PND as being overcome with anger and rage. They feel angry at their partners, children or other family members

• Some are overwhelmed by feelings of hopelessness and helplessness that their lives and sense of self may never return to normal

• Some fathers feel disappointed by their experience of fatherhood and that they have failed in their role as a father and they have let themselves, their children or partners down. They may feel that fatherhood has not been what they expected and feel let down

Are men likely to talk about it?

Men by their nature are not likely to talk about their feelings while women tend to talk more freely. Women in general have better network supports in friends, family, midwife, public health nurse, practice nurses and GP's.