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What precisely is paternal postnatal depression(PPND)?

Many parents experience increased stress after a baby is born. There are several obstacles to bringing a new baby into your life. These difficulties could include intense emotions and lack of sleep. Doctors advise new mothers to look for signs of depression after giving birth. However, new dads are also very vulnerable to postnatal depression.

According to experts, paternal postnatal depression (PPND) affects 4 to 25 percent of new fathers in the first two months after the baby is born. It is more common in males who have spouses suffering from postnatal depression of the mother.

Symptoms of Paternal Postnatal Depression.

PPND appears to occur later than the mother's postpartum depression. However, new dads could suffer from depression at any time after their baby is born.

According to experts, the symptoms of PPND are comparable, but not identical, to those of maternal postnatal depression. Maternal postnatal depression is described as a severe depressive episode that begins within four weeks of the birth of a baby. However, no diagnostic criteria have been defined for PPND.

If you have PPND, you may have the following symptoms:
Feeling hopeless or sad.
Feeling tired or lazy most of the time.
Insufficient or unable to face guilt for not being able to cope with the birth of your child.
Sometimes you may feel that you don't love your child enough.
You are abnormally irritated.
Unusually hungry or not at all hungry.
Intense feeling of fear or dread, even for minor matters such as being alone in the house with your newborn
You may also have:
The desire to cry or sobbing excessively
Obsessive or unreasonable thoughts that may make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Intense nightmares.
Panic attacks occur.
Making decisions is difficult.
Obsessive concerns about the health of your child, yourself, or other family members.
You suspect that you are hurting yourself or your child.
Suicidal thoughts.

Other signs and symptoms include

Loss of interest in usual activities.
When you are anxious, you eat more than when you are hungry.
Being angry or apathetic towards your child or partner.
Acquiring new bodily problems, such as constant headaches or stomach pains.

There are other symptoms of PPND as well. If you don't feel like yourself, it is vital that you get treatment.

What are the causes of paternal postnatal depression?

According to experts, PPND is believed to be caused by a combination of biological and environmental variables.

Biological factors; A woman's hormone levels fluctuate significantly during pregnancy and after the period. These can cause hormonal changes in the father, such as decreases in levels of; testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, vasopressin.
Levels of prolactin also increased. These alterations may be responsible for the mood swings that predispose males to paternal postnatal depression.

Environmental factors; Emotional and stressful events, such as the birth of a baby, can precipitate depression. The demands of parenthood, such as increased financial responsibilities and changes in lifestyle and relationships, along with lack of sleep, concern for the spouse, as well as increased obligations at home, could cause PPND in a new parent.

New fathers are more likely to suffer from PPND if:

During pregnancy, they have a difficult relationship with their spouse.

Their partner suffers from postnatal depression too.

This is their first experience of fatherhood.

They have a limited income.

A new parent's personality, socioeconomic position, genetics, and mental health history can all influence his or her risks of developing PPND.

Conditions Postnatal Depression can lead to?

PPND, like any other type of depression, can lead to other problems. These are some examples:

Weight loss.
Weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, and other weight-related health problems.
Physical discomfort and illness.
Abuse of alcohol or other substances.
Anxiety, panic attacks, and social phobia are all symptoms of anxiety.
Family or marital problems.
Work or school difficulties.
Isolation from friends, family and social groups.
Cutting or eating problems are examples of self-mutilation.
Premature death due to related ailments in extreme cases.

Furthermore, PPND is an important risk factor for child maltreatment.

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What is the treatment for PPND?

Common PPND treatment includes:

1. Medicines

To assist you, your doctor may prescribe medications including antidepressants.
Depending on the symptoms, medications such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and anxiolytics may be needed.

2. Psychotherapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy, for example, can be done alone or with a spouse.

3. Hospitalization or hospital treatment

Inpatient therapy is reserved for severe cases of PPND and other types of depression where you pose an urgent threat to yourself, your spouse, child, or someone else.

4. Home remedies

You can help yourself cope with depression by taking action at home. Consider the following:

Regular exercise can help relieve stress and keep you fit.

Stick to the treatment plan.
Find out more about your condition.
Know what your triggers are.
Avoid or at least reduce the consumption of alcohol and recreational drugs.
Make sleep a top priority.
Maintain an open channel of communication with your spouse.
Join a PPND support group or talk to fathers who have clearly successful relationships with their partners and children. Share your story and get advice from other fathers.

So, this might seem like a big parenting issue and asking for help can be difficult. However, it is vital to keep moving forward in order to feel better. It is never inappropriate to discuss your mental health with your spouse or an experienced expert.

Remember that you are not alone and can ask for assistance if needed. You can control and even cure your PPND with medical therapy and a strong support system. You can continue to raise a happy and healthy child by maintaining a positive relationship with your new family. Don't face it alone.

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Prenatal Depression and Anxiety; Why more women are experiencing it

Ann felt like she was walking through fog when she was pregnant with her second child.

"Most [days] it was difficult to get out of bed... I would spend my mornings weeping on the sofa. "Everything appeared to be more difficult," she remarked. "I struggled to do everyday duties, and the house became a shambles, making me feel like a failure."

She has suffered from anxiety and depression since she was 20 years old, and she was informed she had an 80 to 90 percent probability of developing pre- or postnatal depression. She assumed, however, that it would most likely happen after she had given birth.

"I was fairly surprised that I felt tremendously unhappy and nervous during my pregnancy," she explained, adding that the symptoms began soon after she realized she was pregnant. Struggling after my first appointment with the nurse," I fell into tears and told her I was constantly worried and frightened."

Ann was feeling a lot more than just worry and stress. It is prenatal depression and is afflicting a rapidly growing percentage of women worldwide.

Researchers say an increase in the prevalence of prenatal depression represents a significant public health concern with implications for both current and future generations.

“We know that depression during pregnancy is common. We know that it’s possibly one of the most important timings of depression because it not only impacts the mother, it impacts the developing fetus,” said Rebecca Pearson, PhD, a lecturer in psychiatric epidemiology at the University of Bristol and lead author of the research. “Depression for the individual is the leading cause of disability worldwide because it interferes with functioning, the ability to go to work.

She adds, “It’s obviously very unpleasant and it’s intergenerational, so it has an impact on the child.”

Why more women experiencing prenatal depression today?

According to Pearson, one of the causes for the present generation's increase in prenatal depression may be the cost of living in comparison to prior generations.

"The financial strains are far higher. Our mother's generation could afford a home... today property prices have skyrocketed. You just can barely exist without two sources of income. "They don't have the choice of staying at home for an extended period of time."

Dr. Leena Nathan, an associate clinical professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, Los Angeles, says that being a mother now is more difficult than it was in the past.

"Women are under more stress today than ever before." More women are working and raising children. Modern life moves at a faster speed than in the past. We don't have as much time to relax, calm down, and enjoy life as we used to. Social media and technology worsens your mood. "These concerns did not exist in the 90s," Nathan explained.

She speculates that women of today can admit to experiencing depression, nonetheless, the risks of prenatal depression are high, and we should treat every case seriously.

The Trend of Perinatal(prenatal) Depression in women

"Depressed women can't adequately care for themselves," she explained. "Some women may injure themselves or their children." We know that a fetus needs emotionally, socially, and physically fit mothers to develop and thrive. A mother's happiness has a direct impact on her children's well-being, and the effects of a sad mother can ripple into generations."

Dr. Pearson believes that the present generation may be suffering increased levels of prenatal depression due to higher goals and expectations of achievement.

Kimberly Vandegeest-Wallace, PhD, a psychologist at the University of Kansas Health System, said women who are used to achieving anything they put their mind to may find parenting challenging.

"Highly educated women are accustomed to being able to create and achieve goals." Being pregnant and parenting are all out-of-control components of a woman's life, according to Vandegeest-Wallace. "Because this paradigm is so unlike to the rest of life, many women haven't developed coping mechanisms for failing, being disappointed, needing to be patient, and relinquishing control." All of these elements, however, are essential components of the parenting experience from the minute a woman decides to try to conceive."

Lack of support can exasperate symptoms

Ann says she felt a lot of guilt throughout her second pregnancy since she wasn't able to enjoy herself. In Ann's instance, she had a midwife who could assist her, but many women do not receive the same degree of care.

"We are nowhere near what we need to do to reach men, women, and families suffering from perinatal mood disorders,"

It is obvious that pressure and a lack of family support are contributing to high rates of depression among mothers, and she believes that altering views around maternity leave might help solve the problem.


Making it through the storm

Ann is now the delighted mother of a boy and a daughter. She writes about her mental health struggles on her blog to help other mothers "get through the storm."

"Prenatal depression is a sickness, and it is not your fault," she explained. "Just because you have prenatal depression does not make you a horrible person." It just signifies that you require assistance and should speak with someone about how you are feeling."

Experts say even if a woman is in doubt about whether or not she’s experiencing prenatal depression, she should seek help.

See most common illnesses that go unnoticed...

Recognizing the Signs of Prenatal Depression and Anxiety

For many people, parenting may be an emotional rollercoaster. It's very natural to have a couple more emotional outbursts. However, if a parent's worry becomes so severe that it interferes with their everyday lives, it's time to get treatment.

According to Ann Smith, a nurse, midwife and president of Postpartum Support International, warning signs include persistent melancholy, intrusive thoughts, excessive and unreasonable worry, excessive irritability or anger, drastic appetite changes, and sleeplessness.

Prenatal depression is not a sign of weakness, according to her, and there is support available.

"You are not alone. You are not at fault, and you'll be OK with the right support.

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