Yes, fathers can develop postpartum depression. The incidence is less than in mothers, but about 10.4% of fathers experience postpartum depression during the first month after delivery. The rate is highest three to six months postpartum, when the incidence rises as much as 25.6% (Paulson, 2020).
In one study, the incidence of apparent postpartum depression among gay fathers was 12% when the child was born through surrogacy (Adler, 2020).
Sometimes, both the mother and the father are depressed at the same time during pregnancy and postpartum. Research has found that in up to 3.18% of couples, both parents may concurrently experience perinatal depression (Smythe, 2022).
A Hypothetical Case:
Robert was a 29-year-old high school math teacher when his wife became pregnant with their first child Both parents were pleased. An ultrasound showed they were having a baby boy.
Although Robert was happy about the pregnancy, he periodically worried about his ability to be a good father. His own father had had minimal interaction with him during his childhood, and he realized he did not have a good role model for the job.
Robert had risk factors for developing postpartum depression, including a personal history of depression while he was a college student, some dissatisfaction with his marriage, and anxiety about his wife’s pregnancy.
Neither he nor his wife had depressive symptoms during the pregnancy. His wife had the “baby blues” for a week and a half after delivery, but she was never depressed.
After the baby’s birth, Robert tried to be involved in his care. His wife was pleased that Robert wanted to help, but she thought he was not skilled enough to do a good job of changing diapers, giving the baby bottled milk, and soothing him when he cried. Consequently, Robert stopped caring for the baby, and about three months after delivery, his mood and behavior changed.
