The main factor in postnatal depression, prenatal depression is a well-known phenomenon among expectant mothers. But it could also be present in a significant proportion of future fathers.
Quebec scientist Deborah Da Costa and her team from the research institute of the McGill University Health Center observed a group of 622 men.
Of these, 13.3% had a high rate of depressive symptoms during their partner’s pregnancy.
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Fears, feeling of loneliness …
Why ? The factors identified are very diverse. Some survey participants expressed concern that they might not be up to the task. Others spoke of feeling lonely while their partner’s pregnancy garnered all the attention.
How to detect or prevent prenatal depression? Ideally, the gynecologist or midwife should take the time to ask the future father how he is feeling.
Support groups dedicated to future fathers, offered in more and more maternity hospitals, also represent an interesting avenue.
Sources: study conducted by Dr. Da Costa’s team, published in “The American Journal of Men’s Health”; “Waiting for a child, 2014 edition”, by Professor René Frydman and Christine Schilte, published by Hachette.
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