Expecting moms often worry about the aftermath of having a child. Many women open up and discuss the harsh realities of postpartum depression , which comes usually days to weeks after the birth of a child.
Postpartum depression can make being a new mom very difficult.
Some moms feel withdrawn, unmotivated, and even uninterested in their newborn baby.
It can make parenthood rather difficult when moms feel so down and out.
While many people discuss postpartum in moms, we don’t always hear about dads.
Many research and doctors talk about depression that happens in new moms, but we hardly ever talk about emotional changes and mood differences in new dads.
A new study recently opened up about depression occurrences in new dads.
Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine decided to see just how many dads were screened for depression the way moms are after giving birth.
New moms are often screened for signs of postpartum within a specific timeframe.
Mothers are often screened at six-weeks postpartum to analyze if they are experiencing any signs or symptoms of depression.
However, dads are hardly ever screened.
The researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine found that when screened, 4.4 percent of new dads showed signs of depression.
This is close to the 5 percent of moms who showed signs, too.
The study indicates that new dads are just as likely to suffer from depression.
Dr. Jennifer Ashton, the chief medical correspondent for ABC News claims that this showcases gender discrimination in medicine—but this time, towards men.
The lack of testing in men opens the conversation up to a bigger problem.
“We talk so much about gender discrimination in medicine and how women are often undiagnosed and undetected for the same disease or condition that men are. This is the opposite,” said Dr. Ashton.
Doctors claim men need to be on the radar just like women.
“We don’t have our radar up to detect postpartum depression in men and we need to,” Dr. Ashton claimed.
For newborns, both parents are vital in their development and growth.
While the study brings up important information, the biggest takeaway is that moms and dads should both be screened at the given time.
h/t Jama Network
