Men don’t have C-sections or get sore nipples. But according to a recent study, 10 percent of new dads get pre- and post-birth blues (compared to between 10–30 percent of pregnant women and new moms, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Sadness levels spike between three and six months. “Men go through hormonal changes just like women do after the … [Read more...] about Postpartum depression for dad? Yes, it’s a thing.
dads
A birth plan for dad
OK, dad-to-be, with a baby on the way, there's something you need to know: What you do and don’t say during labor can save your life. Here's how to support your partner the best you can come delivery day. Do's and don'ts for labor Don't mention your partner’s bowel movement. Lie if you have to. She doesn’t want to know. Don't say “Wow, this has been going on for 10 … [Read more...] about A birth plan for dad
For dad: How to cope with your wife’s bed rest
Many of my lifestyle decisions are unhealthy. For example, I believe that New England clam chowder is a beverage. That’s why I always imagined my wife would be the first one on permanent bedpan duty. Like many men who are faced with the prospect of their partner being put on bed rest, I had no idea what I was up against. Honestly, it sounded quite relaxing. Medical school was a … [Read more...] about For dad: How to cope with your wife’s bed rest
One dad’s quest: Don’t turn into a baby during labor
In these last days of my wife’s pregnancy, I’ve become a kind of monk of maternity. My wife and I are preparing for a home birth, and as much as that carries its own unique set of worries and fears, I’ve come to embrace the idea that a pregnancy—whether it involves a casual cruise to the hospital for a planned C-section or the semantics of squatting, moaning, and pushing—always … [Read more...] about One dad’s quest: Don’t turn into a baby during labor
Should dad-to-be have a baby shower, too?
From the cradle to the grave, we’ve got celebrations: birthdays, graduations, and of course the time-honored bachelor party. And yet we’ve left becoming a father out of the pantheon of rite-of- passage ceremonies. It is arguably the biggest event in a man’s life, yet he’s left to play “sniff the baby food in the diaper” at the co-ed baby shower or wait alone watching sports … [Read more...] about Should dad-to-be have a baby shower, too?