Postpartum depression hit me after baby #3

Dec 61 min read

Never thought this would be me. Wife was the one who had it after kid 1, so I thought I was immune or something. But man, three weeks in and I'm feeling that heavy numbness. Can't enjoy the new baby like I should. Sex drive is gone, which makes me feel guilty. Comedy doesn't make me laugh. It's like someone turned the volume down on everything. Called my doctor today. Figure I should mention it even though it feels weird. Has anyone else dealt with PPD as a dad? Do meds actually help?

10 comments348 views

Comments(10)

RRich B.RegularDec 6

This is more common than people think. Three weeks is still super early - the hormonal crash is real even for dads. That heavy numbness feeling especially... that's not just new parent exhaustion. Please reach out to someone. Your wife probably recognizes the signs too

AAdam J.RegularDec 6

This is hitting hard because my wife had it after #1 too and I was that guy thinking "okay I'm aware of it now so it won't happen to me." It absolutely happened to me after #2. The heavy numbness thing - that's not laziness, that's depression. Please reach out to someone

RReggie K.New DadDec 8

The fact that you can't enjoy the new baby is the red flag. That should feel different than this. Talk to your wife, talk to your OB, talk to your regular doctor. PPD in dads is real and treatable. You're not failing, your brain chemistry is just off right now

AAndy T.RegularDec 7

Man I'm sorry you're going through this. The fact that your wife had it after #1 actually might've made you more blind to it in yourself - you were watching her symptoms instead of checking in with your own stuff. Have you talked to your doctor yet?

VVic G.RegularDec 9

Your wife recognizing it in herself means she'll probably be more alert to noticing it in you, which is good. But you gotta tell her specifically what you're feeling. Don't wait for her to ask - depression makes you not want to burden people

TTim B.RegularDec 8

Postpartum depression in dads is real and it's not weakness. I had it after my second kid and it took me way too long to admit something was wrong because I kept thinking "I'm not the one who gave birth, this doesn't apply to me." But the hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and life upheaval hit everyone. Talk to your doctor. There's actually good treatment for this

FFred J.RegularDec 8

The "can't enjoy the new baby" part - that's the thing that made me finally go to a therapist. Everyone expects you to be glowing and you're just numb. That gap between what you're supposed to feel and what you're actually feeling is crushing

TTony F.RegularDec 8

been there brother. After kid 3 something about that sleep deprivation + hormonal stuff hit different. I started therapy + mild antidepressant and within 2 weeks could actually feel present with the baby. Don't white knuckle through this one

TTerry O.RegularDec 9

Hey man, first - that numbness is real and you're not weak for feeling it. Three weeks is when it often hits hardest. Have you talked to your doctor yet? PPD in dads gets overlooked because people assume it only happens to moms, but the brain chemistry doesn't care about gender

JJames H.RegularDec 9

postpartum depression doesn't care if you thought you were immune. It's not about willpower or experience. Get screened. Talk to your doctor. This is medical, not a personality flaw. The fact that you noticed it and wrote about it means you're already doing better than a lot of guys