Birth in the News:
Nonprofit Ordered To Pay $75,000 Over ‘No Pregnancy In The Workplace’ Policy
Tonight Dana and Ryan talked about an important side of the conversation on postpartum mental health, and that's how birth affects dads. 10% of men worldwide showed signs of depression known as paternal postpartum depression or PPPD from the first trimester of their partner’s pregnancy through six months after the child was born. That number goes up to 26% when the child is between 3-6 months old--a rate which is twice the rate of depression typically seen in men.
We were joined by Dr. Will Courtenay, also known as “The Men’s Doc." Dr. Courtenay is an internationally recognized expert in men’s health and in helping men, boys and fathers. The American Psychological Association calls him “a leading psychologist in the field of masculinity.” He is a psychotherapist in Oakland, California, and author of the book, Dying to Be Men. He has served on the clinical faculty of the University of California, San Francisco, Medical School and McLean Hospital at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Courtenay is the founder of several websites for men, including SadDaddy.com, which provides information and resources for fathers experiencing postpartum depression. Dr. Courtenay gave us some insight into postpartum depression and the unique experience fathers have when they are suffering from depression. He also discussed resources for fathers to cope and seek help.
Next we spoke to Martin Dahlborg. Martin is the father of 3 children, aged 10, 6, and 4 and married to licensed midwife, Heidi Dahlborg, founder of Rosemary Birthing Home. In their first pregnancy, the couple planned a homebirth that resulted in a hospital transfer, an experience that was difficult for both mother and father. Martin discussed his family's experiences as well as ways they learned to cope, adapt, and grow.
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