Does Post Natal Depression effect men as well as women??

Question

I feel that i cant cope and dont feel i am doing enough to help. Our little boy (3 weeks) is not well and his mother is doing a fantastic job but she is REALLY getting down and she shouldnt be as i should be taking care of them and taking all their worries away. I feel i am failing them both. Help me!!!

Answer 1

Since postpartum depression is typically caused by an imbalance in hormones due to giving birth, no, men cannot have it.  I can understand that you might be overwhelmed, but physically there is nothing wrong with you.  It's a mental problem you are having, and you have to work through your issues so that you can be there for your wife and child.

If your wife is exhibiting signs of postpartum depression, you should get her help.  It can take months for a woman to recover and in the meantime she might need to talk to someone or try some medication.  

Answer 2

I've only head of Post Partum Depression,

but I think the best thing for you to do would be to ask your wife what you can do to help !

since you cant guess, and she would appreciate your caring

Answer 3

Firstly, you both want the best for your new baby, right?  OK - take a deep breath.  The majority of your stress comes from unrealistic expectations you have for yourself.  You cannot fix everything.  You can be there, fix what you can, but let go of what you cannot control.  Your wife is still experiencing fluctuating hormones, fatigue(you, too!), and the added stress of an ill child.  It's nothing you caused, or could've prevented - take it one day at a time.  If you don't get the answers you want/need... keep asking.  If you still feel like you aren't getting the info you need - find another Doctor.  Go with your gut when it involves your child.

Ultimately, be there for each other, but don't add to your own stress level by expecting perfection.

Best Wishes,

Answer 4

You can become depressed but you don't have the hormones in your body to create post natal depression. Also grow up and be a man stop whining, if you doing the best you can do then be strong for you family. That is what a man is supposed to do, if your going to support her then do so.

Answer 5

i thought you could only get post natal depression if you'd given birth.

i would define the term 'post natal'

Answer 6

yes it can effect men too! It is a huge change and if your son is not well that makes it hard too! Ask a dr for help if it is too much as you want to be well for them both! Good luck!  had pnd 3 out of 4 pregnancies!

Answer 7

Yes! It is very real in men, just as much as it is in women. Only the reasons are usually a little different. Here are some articles I found that might help.

http://menshealth.about.com/od/relations...

http://www.postpartummen.com/depression....

http://www.postpartummen.com/index.html

http://www.webmd.com/depression/postpart...

Answer 8

Post partum depression is a function of female hormones; in particular, once the placenta is delivered, some sort of hormone [estrogen? progestin? I've forgotten] levels change and can bring on some incredible mood swings. Clearly, men can't experience these drastic changes in female hormones since they aren't, um, females.

However, as some of the others have said, a new baby is a simply enormous change that can be extremely stressful in spite of its inherent joys. Do you tend to feel negative stress symptoms even during positive stress events [marriage, job promotion, moving to a new house]? If so, then that should partially explain why you feel so helpless.

Most likely the real reason you are feeling so panicked, though, is that your son is not thriving yet, and your wife is struggling, and that you, as provider and protector, are pretty much powerless to fix this situation. You didn't mention whether or not you have any other kids, yet, but parenthood, although rewarding, is just about the hardest thing on the planet a human can do, with many challenges completely out of our power to control.

Wait til your son turns, like, 12, and starts getting rejected by girls. What can a parent do besides give sympathy and worry behind the scenes?

Congratulations, first of all, on your new baby, and please don't worry that you're failing your family. You're doing the best that you can. Get as much sleep and the best nutrition that you can, when you can, so that when your poor wife is resting, you can take up some serious slack and give her a chance to get her strength back.

Answer 9

http://information.alone.at

you can get much information in this website, If you will check anyone blue link in website.

Answer 10

yeah, men can suffer from it as well.

you cant do everything, just try your best

i hope he gets better soon :) x

Answer 11

Good question! Yes. But only mentally. Anything past that is Physical symptoms of mental problems. Or your mind ;)

Good luck. I hope you get better.

Answer 12

Postpartum depression? The hormones are big culprits in that, so, no, it's not a guy thing.

However, fathers can feel the stress of new responsibility and he might feel "depressed" from it.

Answer 13

Believe me it does and it lasts at least 40 years!