However, the impact of childbirth extends to the woman’s body and mind, which undergoes changes during the birthing process. It also affects the mental well-being of fathers.
A pilot study, Screening fathers for postpartum depression in a maternal-child health clinic carried out at the University of Illinois, Chicago, advocates screening of fathers for this condition.
“A lot of dads are stressed. They’re scared. They’re struggling with balancing work and parental and partner responsibilities,” Dr Sam Wainwright, the lead author, emphasised.
These conversations also spurred a larger research project such that researchers have begun to learn more about the experiences of fathers, related to their mental and physical health.
Dr Pragya Rashmi added “for men, it may occur due to adjusting to a new role as a parent, the responsibilities of caring for a newborn, and sleep deprivation and more.”