I have to admit, each time I had a baby, I felt a little down afterwards.
Having a child is a big change, and I was never one of those moms who just took the new addition in stride. A recent study on Dad’s mental health has made me realize, all these years later, that I never gave much thought to how my husband was faring as his family expanded. Chances are, he might have had a touch of postpartum blues, too.
That’s according to a recent study from Eastern Virginia Medical School, published in the May 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers pooled the results of more than 40 studies in 16 countries, and found that about 10% of men reported feeling depressed in the months leading up to delivery day, and after their babies were born.
Depression in Dads was highest in the U.S.: 14% vs. 8% in other countries. The rate of depression among men was highest when their children were between three and six months old. Frankly, I am not surprised. The first three months after the baby is born are relatively chaotic, and nobody in the household is getting the sleep, relaxation, or attention they deserve - except the infant.
Also of note: fathers were more likely to be depressed if the mom was depressed, too. Any parent that feels unable to live up to the demands on their limited time and flagging energy should seek help, sooner rather than later.
Are you in the baby-making mode? Maybe you need to rev up your love life during your pregnancy, or perhaps your libido could use a boost now that you have a child. Read all about edible aphrodisiacs in my latest WebMD article.
Have you seen my other blog at USATODAY.com? It features tips for feeding your family healthy foods, and offers a weekly recipe that I prepare with my children as part of Cooking With My Kids. This week’s recipe is Buttermilk-Walnut Coffee Cake with Orange Essence. Delicious!
Future fathers, listen up! Having a healthy baby is up to a father-to-be, too.
The notion that dad has anything to do with his child’s health before baby-making begins is relatively new to the pregnancy nutrition scene, but it’s garnering more attention. Expect the Best delves into what men should do to prepare for conceiving the healthiest, brightest baby possible. I was recently interviewed on Fox 25’s Morning News in Boston to discuss this very topic.
Now, there’s even more evidence to back up the claims that guys should prepare for pregnancy, too. A study published last month in Fertility and Sterility suggests that men who eat healthier diets may also have healthier sperm. In this study, the subjects were attending fertility clinics. Thirty men had poor sperm quality and 31 men had normal sperm. Those with poor quality sperm had low sperm counts and higher percentages of abnormally formed sperm.
Turns out, the men who ate more fiber, carbohydrate, folate, vitamin C, and lycopene (found in watermelons and tomatoes, for example), and less fat and protein had more normal sperm.
While this study is by no means conclusive, it never hurts to eat a healthy diet, especially if you’re planning on your first baby or your fourth. Balanced diets and regular physical activity helps prevent diabetes, and reduces the risk factors for heart disease, including elevated blood cholesterol concentrations, and high blood pressure.
