What Puts Me at Risk For PPND?

Unfortunately, we’re really only beginning to understand PPND. One of the things we know the least about is what puts men at risk for PPND. Here are some of the things that research suggests may increase your chances of experiencing PPND:

• A lack of good sleep
• Changes in hormones
• Personal history of depression
• Poor relationship with spouse
• Poor relationship with one or both parents
• Relationship stress – with a partner or with in-laws
• Excessive stress about becoming a parent or father
• Nonstandard family (such as being unmarried
  or a stepfather)
• Poor social functioning
• A lack of support from others
• Economic problems or limited resources
• A sense of being excluded from the connection between the mother and baby

One thing we do know is that if your partner is depressed, there’s a good chance you are too. Up to half of men whose partners have postpartum depression are depressed themselves.

I’ve included an assessment at the bottom of this page that will help you determine whether you might have PPND.