Baby Blues Threatens 10 Per Cent New Fathers

It appears that some fathers are bound to share post-natal depression with their wives, a new study reveals.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association deals with the possibility of the man of the family developing post-natal depression – which turns out to be a serious issue for 10 per cent of new fathers.

Baby blues, or postpartum depression, is known to affect up to 30 percent of mothers following the birth of their child. It can last for a couple of months and is characterized by loss of interest, low energy, melancholy feelings, and sleep problems. After-labor hormonal changes are considered to bring about this condition.

In spite of the absence of hormonal changes, some new dads also begin to suffer from troubled sleep and dispiritedness due to changes in lifestyle and new responsibilities. This condition usually sets in after three to six months of the birth and is often reported in cases where the mother also is undergoing postpartum depression.

It is believed that many of the cases of postpartum depression in men remain undetected and untreated.

“Becoming a parent is one of the biggest changes that both men and women can go through,” comments Bridget O’Connell from the mental health charity Mind, adding that very little is actually known about the impact of the birth of a child on the mental health of the parents, as well as how many people are faced with perinatal psychological problems.

Scientists brought up an issue of the necessity for screening and referral of new fathers, pointing out that the psychological condition of parents is bound to have a lasting effect on that of their children.

Source of the image: Photl.com.