Many of us have heard plenty of stories about women experiencing postpartum depression. This condition is said to affect one in nine new mothers. But many would not be knowing about paternal postpartum depression. PPND may be experienced by men after a child is born. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, about 10% of new fathers in the world suffer from this depression and it is mostly seen in younger men. A 2014 study published in Pediatrics found that this problem increases by 68% during the first five years of a baby’s life. If not detected in the early stages, one is likely to suffer from chronic depression.
Reason for PPND
According to a Kolkata-based gynaecologist and IVF specialist, Dr Indranil Saha, the lack of knowledge for raising a child, excessive crying by the baby, over-responsibility, wife’s inability to understand the man and the relationship between husband and wife are some of the factors that are responsible for PPND in men. Also, while new mothers are quickly able to bond with the new-born, often fathers take some time and during that process, a few consider themselves as outsiders. Other factors include relationship instability in the past, financial problems or stress and a sick or premature baby.