Men Also Suffer From Postpartum Depression, Part 1

Note: This is Part 1 of a 2-part series about male postpartum depression. You can read Part 2 here.

We all hear about postpartum depression in new mothers. It's a serious issue, and if not addressed by professionals, the consequences can be devastating for everyone.

What we don't hear about is postpartum depression in men. Yes, new dads can suffer from this as well. It's too bad we don't hear more about it because there are a lot of new dads who have postpartum depression.

In fact, I'm pretty sure I had it. After DS was born I was depressed - really depressed! I did my best to stay strong and keep my game face on, but it was hard. The day after he was born I went home to take a shower and grab a few things; I was on the verge of tears. And they weren't tears of joy.

I also remember sitting in the hospital as we were being discharged not wanting to go home. The nurses and doctors made everything so much easier because they helped us a lot with DS. As soon as we left the hospital though, we were on our own.

Don't get me wrong, he has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I fell in love with him as soon as the surgeon plucked him from my wife's stomach. At first he looked like an alien because he was so slimy and funny looking. I breathed a sigh of relief that he really was a human when the nurse cleaned him off.

I should mention that I've suffered from depression long before DS came along, so I'm more predisposed to it than others. Nevertheless, I stayed depressed for a while after his birth. At least a good month, maybe longer. I honestly can't remember. I think I blocked some of those feelings out.

A lot of my depression came from simply wanting my old life back. It was so simple before having a baby. I've slowly had to come to grips that this is now my new reality. Once that process happened, things got easier.

If you're a new dad and you're depressed, you are not alone. In my next post I'll write about the causes of postpartum depression in men. Stay tuned...