Father's Experiences of Birth Trauma Deserve Attention

"While research shows upward of 45 percent of new moms report experiencing birth trauma, there is much less attention paid to the experience of fathers. However, approximately 90 percent of fathers attend the birth of their child. As such, they are at risk of witnessing a complicated birth involving their partner and child, which would put them at risk of experiencing birth trauma. And, with contemporary definitions of trauma acknowledging that exposure to an event can be traumatic, a father can, without a doubt, experience the trauma of childbirth without giving birth himself.

Paternal Symptoms and Impacts of Birth Trauma

About 1 in 10 fathers experience mental health concerns during the postpartum period. Fathers who report experiencing a traumatic birth are more likely to later develop these postpartum mental health concerns. In addition, the impacts of experiencing a partner's traumatic birth can include the following:

• Feeling fear and anxiety
• Experiencing flashbacks and nightmares about the birth
• Relationship difficulties with their partner
• Sexual and intimacy problems with their partner
• Difficulty with parent-infant bonding

How Fathers Can Cope After Birth Trauma

Fathers who experience distress after childbirth typically have difficulty reaching out for help and can go years without receiving professional support for the effects of birth trauma. One study found that only 3.2 percent of new fathers seek out mental health services. This can likely be attributed to societal messages men receive about what it means to be both a man and a father. If you are a father who experienced a traumatic birth and you are now struggling, or you know a new father who could benefit from additional help, below are a few suggestions:

• Locate a therapist specifically trained in supporting dads’ mental health and trauma. You can find a provider who specializes in trauma-focused therapies such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) or cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT), which have been shown to be effective in treating trauma symptoms.
• Fathers’ mental health is greatly impacted by maternal mental health; the strongest predictor for paternal depression during the postpartum period is maternal depression. This suggests that engaging in support for both partners and couple therapy can also be beneficial to the overall mental health of new families."

*I think we tend to forget about men's mental health when it comes to the postpartum period. We always think of the mother first because she is the one that physically gives birth to the baby, but the father is still present and is exposed to anything the mother goes through as well and this can definitely have an impact on him. Society tells men that they need to "man up" and this leads them to believe that they don't need mental health support. I wish our society was different in this regard, but I hope we are moving towards a better mentality. For anyone, moms and dads, who may be struggling, there is a great website called Postpartum Support International that has so many great resources! The link can be found here: https://www.postpartum.net/ Please don't hesitate to reach out for support if you or someone you know may be struggling. You are never alone! Do you feel as though society is tougher on men regarding their mental health? What can we do to try and improve men's experiences with reaching out to get help?*

#MensMentalHealth #PostpartumDepression #PPD

Please find the full article at Psychology Today.