A new topic of conversation, male postpartum depression. Let's talk about that, because hey, we've had it with postpartum depression in women. We now know all about that. However? Or not? With a big smile on my face I read somewhere in passing someone's comment that there is a TV program about postpartum depression in men. What? So it really exists?
Well no. Let's kill that assumption right away. Men cannot get pregnant (!), and there is no such thing as postpartum depression in men. enough! I personally find the whole 'we' being pregnant a bit exaggerated. I think I've always been the one who looked like an elephant, was hungry like a bear and was grumpy about Joost knows what!
Naturally, psychological and social aspects play a role in postpartum depression. But even though postpartum depression in women is unfortunately not always taken seriously, we now know that it also has a hormonal basis. Which starts within four weeks after delivery.
And this hormonal basis that the man lacks. So postpartum depression in men? No, I don't believe in that.
What I do believe is that the birth of a baby can also have a major impact on men. Of course!
As a man, you've been tiptoeing around for weeks to please your heavily pregnant wife. Then you kind of stand on the sidelines during childbirth where you also have to watch your words. With a bit of bad luck you also have your mother-in-law by your side. Only to end up in a situation where you have a stranger at home who tells you what to do. And I haven't even mentioned all the maternity tears, the sleepless nights and all those rusks that you have to spread for others every time. To drive you crazy as a young father. Actually, the young fathers should undergo some kind of change management. After all, your whole situation is turned upside down and that can make you quite gloomy.
But postpartum depression? Can we just leave that as a "female thing"? Then we can at least focus on tackling postpartum depression in women. And in addition, we focus on the misery of the man in that period. But under a different name.
