An inability to enjoy life

The new findings suggest that between 5 and 10% of young men (aged 24 to 32) will experience an increase in sadness or anxiety or an inability to enjoy life during the first years of fatherhood.

Led by Craig F. Garfield of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the investigation looked at 10,623 young men enrolled in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which examined various health factors over the course of 20 years. The participants responded to a questionnaire on depressive symptoms throughout the duration of the study.

Young dads more likely to develop symptoms of depression

Around 33% of the men became fathers between ages 24 and 32, and the majority of the new dads lived in the same household with their child. Based on the questionnaires, researchers concluded that young men who were aged around 25 years when they became fathers were 68% more likely to develop symptoms of depression, as long as they shared a home with their child. The symptoms were not as likely to develop among the young fathers who lived separately from their child.

Depression has a negative effect on kids

“Parental depression has a detrimental effect on kids, especially during those first key years of parent-infant attachment,” Garfield points out. In 2011, the researcher published another study in Pediatrics showing that depressed fathers were more likely to spank their children.

“We knew paternal depression existed and the detrimental effects it has on children, but we did not know where to focus our energy and our attention until this study,” Garfield said. The findings suggest that young fathers could benefit from more guidance and attention to help them cope with the transition into parenthood.

(Relaxnews)

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40 per cent of South African women affected

It’s a time of hope and happiness, but also of fatigue and feeling overwhelmed. Depression and anxiety are common during pregnancy, and may affect as many as 40 per cent of pregnant women in South Africa.

Risk factors

• A conflicted pregnancy, e.g. unplanned, ill-timed
• An ‘emotionally charged’ pregnancy, e.g. post-infertility pregnancies
• A complicated pregnancy
• Major stressful life events, e.g. a death in the family, miscarriage, relocation, losing your job
• Stress relating to your income or home (socio-economic factors)
• A lack of emotional support, especially from your family or partner
• Previous depression

Taking care of yourself for your baby

“You are your baby’s most important person, so take care of yourself,” says the chairperson of the Post Natal Depression Support Association (PNDSA), Dr Bavanisha Vythilingum, who is also a specialist psychiatrist in a private practice.

“There is no shame in experiencing depression during pregnancy – acknowledging how you are feeling and seeking help to ensure your emotional well-being is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child.”

Baby blues that linger

Most new moms have ‘the blues’ shortly after birth. For a few days, you may feel anxious, tearful, tired and irritable. This is normal and should clear up in about two weeks. If you are so blue that you cannot care for your child or yourself, have thoughts of hurting either yourself or the baby and are sad for more than two weeks, you could have postnatal depression and should seek help as soon as possible.

Postnatal depression can develop slowly and at any time during the first year of your baby’s life. If left untreated, it can escalate and affect your interaction with your baby.

About the Author: Dr Noluthando Nematswerani is a Discovery Health Clinical Specialist. For more information on Discovery, visit www.discovery.co.za. You can also visit Discovery’s YouTube channel DiscoverySA for Medical Miracle stories.

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