Postpartum Depression Affects Dads as Well

Most women, about 80%, get some form of postpartum depression after giving birth. However, science is discovering that fathers can experince the 'baby blues' as well. Most physicans, being as there only about 4 % of fathers with postpartum, are still unfimiliar with how and why this can affect men as well. Doctors believe some of the depression can come from fear of not being able to provide for the child and the life altering process of having a child in itself.
And unlike women, men are less likely to express their emotions or reach out for help if dealing with depression, becoming problematic in diagnosing and treating postpartum in fathers. However, the depression isn't just social pressures; fatherhood, like motherhood, has its own biololgy and can alter the brain. In recent studies, new fathers experinced an increase in the hormone vasopressin, which promotes paretnal behaviors in adults. Another factor in experincing postpartum is being with a woman who is going through this depression as well- men with parteners who had a more severe form of the depression were two and a half times more likely to become depressed than a man whose partener wasnt depressed.
I think it is very sad that men experince postpartum too. It is especially sad that since it is not normal, people may not take it seriously when it should be taken very seriously with whomever has it, man or woman. It doesn't surprise me that men can get it as well, because although they don't give birth, they helped make the baby and are therefore going to be strongly attached to the child. I think soceity needs to stop putting so much pressure on men to be 'strong' and 'manly' and not express how they feel because if they don't, depression can lead to loss of life.

Here is the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/health/08mind.html?_r=1&ref=health