By Dr. Michael B. Smith, ND
Before and after a baby is born, nearly all the focus and attention are given to the new baby and the mother, and rightfully so. However, the father is a key player in the whole process and is often overlooked as someone who needs care and support during this big life change. This is particularly true when talking about paternal postpartum depression.
Paternal Postpartum Depression 101
We often think about postpartum depression as happening in mothers, which it does. About 1 in 5 mothers experience mood disorders before or after their baby is born. Did you know that about 1 in 10 dads experience postpartum depression?
Here are 5 things that you need to know about the “daddy blues”:
1. Hormonal Changes Happen
Paternal postpartum depression happens because of changes inside the father’s body while their partner is pregnant and after giving birth. These happen because of lower levels of testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, oxytocin, and prolactin. All of these hormones contribute to how we feel mentally and emotionally.
2. Life Looks Different
Sleep deprivation, lifestyle changes, and evolving relationships between partners and with the newborn also play a significant role in how the father feels during this time.
3. How it Manifests
Paternal depression doesn’t manifest the same way that maternal depression does. It often comes on slower and displays as being irritable, anxious, obsessive or compulsive, and a desire to check out and play video games, for example. It also manifests in sleep disturbances, greater tendency toward substance abuse, and changes in body weight.
4. Effects from Maternal Depression
According to this article, maternal depression is one of the most important risk factors for paternal depression, along with other risk factors including preexisting depression and other family and social stressors.
5. How to Assess Paternal Postpartum Depression
Interestingly, paternal postpartum depression is not listed in the American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -5 (DSM-5). It does list maternal depression, though. Paternal depression can be assessed with the same screening tools that are used for maternal depression.
Long Term Effects for the Family
Untreated paternal postpartum depression has the potential to affect many members of the family and household, including:
- Impacting the father’s employment and social relationships outside of the home
- Causing or worsening maternal depressive symptoms in his partner
- Straining the couple’s relationship
- Negatively impacting the social, psychological, and cognitive wellbeing of children, even when the children are grown to adolescence.5
Given these and other challenges with untreated depression, it becomes even more important for fathers dealing with depression following the birth of their child to seek help.
Treatments for Paternal Depression
Conventional medical treatments for depression of any kind center around anti-depressant medications and therapy. Interestingly, fathers with postpartum depression often gravitate toward therapy, either individual or couples therapy for treating depression, instead of medication. Therapy is always encouraged as a way of supporting mental health. To find a mental health provider in your area, go to psychologytoday.com and look on their Find a Therapist search tool.
As a Naturopathic Physician, I can prescribe anti-depressant and other mental health medication if needed, but I prefer utlizing other naturopathic therapies that don’t have as many side effects. As with all my patients, I help fathers with postpartum depression optimize their foundations of health: eating well, moving well, sleeping well, having good social support, and minimizing stress. I focus on optimal neurotransmitter support, supplementing with specific amino acids and things like omega 3 fatty acids, herbs, and homeopathic remedies that improve brain and mental health.
In all cases, I like to meet patients where they are and provide the treatments that work best for them. No two patients are the same, so no two treatment plans are the same.
Making it Personal
Though I have not personally experienced paternal postpartum depression, I have supported my wife as “daddy doula” during the birth of my two children. I have also, at different times of my life, experienced bouts of depression. The combination of these experiences has made me very sensitive to the needs of fathers, especially around the time a baby is born.
A father’s health impacts many people around him. Naturopathic medicine provides a wonderful framework for fathers to receive help for postpartum depression and many other health concerns. Fathers often see their role as a provider and one who needs to support their partner and new baby child. Sometimes, though, they need help too.
If you or someone you know needs support with paternal postpartum depression, I’d encourage you (or them) to reach out to me for a free 15-minute consultation and discuss how some simple naturopathic therapies can offer additional support through this phase. You can also find great resources on the Postpartum International’s website on the subject.
- Stories of fathers who had postpartum depression: https://www.postpartum.net/join-us/ifmhd/
- Resources: https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/help-for-dads/
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