CNN.com recently ran a story on Male Postpartum Depression. It’s a quick read, so feel free to check it out before continuing on.
I’ve read the article numerous times, and I still don’t know how I feel about it. I’m of two minds, and here’s why:
Do I feel like it should be labeled as POSTPARTUM depression?
This is where I struggle. Although I can’t clearly state why, there is part of me that wants to say- man up. When the woman in the article says that she wanted to smack her husband, I was like, “here, here!!” It totally sucks to be tired and crazy with emotions and totally overwhelmed but I don’t completely believe that men experience the same types of hormonal imbalances that women do (and, studies often show that it is these hormonal imbalances that cause many of the biggest postpartum depression symptoms). Although the CNN article does mention that men have higher levels of estrogen after childbirth, I have had a hard time finding more information to back up this claim. In fact, I have found almost nothing. I think it’s the word “postpartum” that bothers me because, while it logically makes sense I feel like it’s a word that is really attached to female, post-birth depression.
Perhaps if it was named something else: First Life Crisis? Daddy Blues? Parental Depression? – for me, anything but Postpartum Depression would make the idea of men suffering from depression after the birth of their child more palatable.
Regardless, and despite the label, it’s interesting to note that more and more men are admitting to experiencing depression symptoms post-baby.
I think the key to this growing issue of MALE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION may lie in counseling pre-birth. We go to pre-marital counseling before our weddings, why not prenatal counseling as well?? It might be the key to preparing dads-to-be.
What are your thoughts? Can men have “postpartum” depression? Does that label bother you?
When someone who is suffering from depression realizes that their symptoms are a normal and common reaction to a malfunctioning nervous system, it brings a great sense of relief. Understanding how their malfunctioning nervous system causes those symptoms brings further relief. Suddenly, we no longer view ourselves as a freak.
What a great post! So very interesting and very true. My ex-husband suffered through a major depression after our first child was born and I had not a trace of PPD. I have had the opinion for a long time that as a society we get caught up in “labels” way too much. After having worked in health/rehab for years I stand by the mindset that we should always be more concerned about the symptoms and how to deal with it rather than the actual “label”.
That being said however I like the “parental partum depression” makes sense to me. Postpartum infers after giving birth…and last time I check we were the ones who still actually do that. 🙂
I agree that it’s a different issue all together.
I also suffered PPD. I believe mine was purely hormonal. I remember the feeling of my mind not being my own. My thoughts not being my own. Having no control over how I felt. How sad I was. How I would cry for absolutely no reason at all.
And it was because my hormones were completely off level and out of whack.
Because my body had just housed, grown and birthed another human being. And then began producing all the nutrition the baby required.
I’m not taking away the life changing event that parenthood is for a man, but the changes a womans body and mind goes through during pregnancy, childbirth and post birth is something only a womans body and mind can go through.
But that’s JMO 🙂
For some reason, Sarah, I agree. I can’t put my finger on why but Postpartum Depression is, in my opinion, a woman’s issue and I think it takes away from some of the purely physical components to include men (or even adoptive moms, I guess). I am not saying that these folks don’t suffer from depression after having a baby but after my first I now know I had Postpartum Depression. I know this because, although sleep deprived and overwhelmed and often “blue”, I did not have it after my second. There is a difference and that difference, IMO, is physical/hormonal.
Drawing attention to the impact this huge life change has on men is important. However, it is not the same. Maybe equally as important but different.
You know, it’s funny because I’m not huge on “gender roles” but for some reason I just feel like men don’t suffer quite as much as women when it comes to childbirth (physically & emotionally)- I mean, they do have huge changes but I guess I can’t quite wrap my head around them really suffering from the severe postpartum symptoms I’ve seen many of my female friends suffer from…gosh, I sound so sexist. ugh.
Super interesting post Sarah. As someone who suffered from bad postpartum depression, I’m actually okay with the term being used for men. I actually wonder now if some adoptive moms suffer from postpartum and am going to google that as well – my point being they don’t have the hormonal issues either. I think the term, to me, means depression after having a baby and I think men deal with alot of what we’re going through with some additional stresses. Men are naturally providers – it’s inate. I think the stress of realizing that your family has expanded and you have to provide is a different feeling. I also think that men deal with the sleeplessness, the life change and also being relegated to being number 3 in their wives priorities. All of this can just add to the depression. I’m curious to read what others think and maybe my perspective is a bit biased since I don’t have a husband that I’d want to ‘man up’…who knows if I did, maybe I’d feel differently!