Wife suggested I might have postpartum depression and I laughed | DadHQ

Wife suggested I might have postpartum depression and I laughed

Jan 191 min read

We just had our second kid 3 months ago and honestly I've been pretty checked out. Not sleeping great even when the baby sleeps, zero interest in stuff I used to love, just going through the motions at work. Wife brought it up gently and I was like "that's not a guy thing" but then I googled it and... yeah. Has anyone dealt with this? Feels weird to admit I might be struggling when she's the one doing all the feeding.

6 comments322 views

Comments(6)

RRick H.RegularJan 19

The fact that your wife brought it up probably means she's noticing a real pattern. At 3 months postpartum for the family that's a lot of stress for everyone. Getting checked out isn't weakness, it's actually pretty common.

HHenry M.RegularJan 21

Laughing it off is a classic dad move but not helpful here. Go talk to your regular doctor about the sleep issues and how you're feeling. Takes like 10 minutes and could change everything.

RRobertNew DadJan 20

Three months in is still the thick of it. The combination of no sleep and a new baby would mess with anyone's headspace. This might be less about depression and more about just being exhausted, but either way talking to someone helps.

JJakeNew DadJan 20

I had something similar after my second and didn't realize it until like 6 months in. Once I acknowledged it and got some help it made a huge difference. Your wife might actually be onto something here.

LLuke M.RegularJan 21

Your wife brought this up with care not criticism. That's worth listening to. Men definitely get PPD and it's legit. No shame in getting support, whether that's therapy or medication or both.

JJay C.New DadJan 21

Dude postpartum depression is real in dads too, people just don't talk about it as much. The checked out feeling, sleep issues, not being engaged - those are actual symptoms. Worth talking to your doctor about instead of laughing it off.