Postpartum Progress

PPD In Men Hurts Childhood Development

A U.S. psychologist said a study of fathers who suffer postpartum depression suggests the condition can hurt child development.  James Paulson of Eastern Virginia Medical School said 10 percent of fathers with 9-month-old children suffered from clinical depression, compared with 5 percent of other men the same age, USA Today reported Wednesday.  The study involved 4,500 new fathers.  Paulson said depressed fathers read less to their children than did fathers who weren't depressed. By the time the children were 2 years old, those who had depressed fathers had somewhat smaller vocabularies.  A British study found children of depressed fathers were nearly twice as likely to be defiant, disobedient and hostile, USA Today said.

Here is some more information from Dr. Shoshanna Bennett on postpartum depression in dads.

Sylvia Lasalandra to Appear on FOX This Thursday

PSI's President's Advisory Council Chair, Sylvia Lasalandra Frodella, and her husband Michael Frodella will appear this Thursday on FOX's "The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet". The segment will address postpartum depression in fathers. Be sure to check it out!

New Resource for Men with PPD

Dr. Will Courtenay, who is one of the fathers coordinators for Postpartum Support International, has launched a new site called PostpartumMen at www.saddaddy.com.  This site was expressly created for men who experience postpartum depression themselves.  Recent research has indicated that men can experience postpartum depression, or PPND (paternal postnatal depression), too, and this population has been underserved until now.  PostpartumMen offers information and an online forum. 

And let's not forget about PostpartumDads, which was created by David Klinker for new dads whose wives have PPD. 

I'm glad that men are finally getting more resources aimed directly at them and their needs when it comes to the postpartum period.