Yes, men can get the post-baby blues too

Midwives to look for signs in both parents

MIDWIVES should consider both parents when looking for signs of depression before and after the birth of a child, a review suggests.

Failing to assess the mental health impact of parenthood on both genders can harm their relationship and the baby, researchers warned.

Their analysis of 23 previous studies involving 29,286 couples with low- risk pregnancies revealed mothers and fathers may struggle at the same time.

More than 3 per cent of couples were found to both suffer from late postnatal depression, which occurs three to 12 months after a child is born.

Around 2 per cent both experienced antenatal depression, which occurs before the birth.

A similar number had early postnatal depression, the period up to 12 weeks after delivery.

Women who had limited social support, a violent partner or a stressful early life were at greater risk of developing a mood disorder. The risk factors for men were lower levels of education, unemployment and marital distress, found the findings in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Lead author Dr Kara Smythe, from University College London, said: ‘Mood disorders in one parent may impact the other parent and there is evidence that paternal depression leads to increased symptoms of depression in mothers during pregnancy and in the first six postpartum months. Parental perinatal mood disorders are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, impaired bonding with the newborn and behavioural problems in their children.

‘Co-occurrence of mood disorders in both parents may amplify these negative outcomes.’

The researchers concluded that healthcare workers cannot ‘forget that new fathers may also struggle with their mental health’ and their needs could be considered during antenatal or postnatal classes.

The Royal College of Midwives said supporting fathers is ‘in the best interests of the whole family’ – but maternity services were ‘incredibly stretched’.