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Paul Nelson reportingNew mothers aren't the only ones who can feel postpartum depression. Counselors say new dads feel the effects, too. New research says fathers of younger babies may be more at risk.
Think back to 1987. Reagan was in the White House, Dirty Dancing had all the teenage girls a-flutter. But for some people, it wasn't the time of their lives. Ginger Law was going through what she calls a severe case of postpartum depression. She says it was worse than when she had malignant melanoma.
"If I had to choose between the week knowing I was going to die or any week in postpartum depression, I'll pick the week knowing I was going to die," she said.
What made matters worse, her husband also showed signs of depression.
"As time went on, and I just seemed to get worse and worse, he started to be more and more irritable, more and more angry with the children, [and] he was afraid to really approach me," she said.
Law is a nurse who now works at St. Marks Hospital. She says she sees other dads who get postpartum depression, which she hopes would never happen to anyone.
"Ten percent of men will get postpartum depression as opposed to anywhere from 15 to 20 percent of women," she said.
A report from USA Today says fathers of 9-month-old babies are about twice as likely to show symptoms of major depression. Wasatch Family Therapy Clinical Director Julie Hanks says there are several reasons why.
"New dads feel a lot of pressure with becoming fathers. Financial stress increases. The relationship changes with their spouse. They might feel a loss, like their wife is now focused on the baby instead of the marriage relationship," she said.
Hanks says there are signs new dads should watch for.
"[Signs include] changes in sleep that's not related to the baby waking up, of course, but changes in sleep, appetite changes, feelings of helplessness, having thoughts of harming yourself or someone else and a lack of interest in things you used to enjoy," she explained.
There are also some things you can do to keep the effects of postpartum depression down before it even begins.
"Research supports that if you have a good, solid friendship (with your spouse), you'll survive the birth of a baby better," Hanks said.
Some researchers say depressed fathers read less to their kids, so those children know fewer words by age two.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
