By now, we all must be aware of how a mother's body changes during and even after pregnancy. What comes next is a challenging phase, called postpartum. However, it is not just the mothers, but dads too go through postpartum depression. As per the UT Southwestern Medical Center, 1 in 10 dads struggle with postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety. According to a 2019 study published in Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, a peer reviewed journal providing evidence-based information, titled Postpartum Depression in Men by Jonathan R Scarff defines postpartum depression as an episode of major depressive disorder occurring soon after the birth of a child. While it is frequently reported in mothers, but can also occur in father. However, there is no established criteria for this in men, although it could present over the course of a year, with symptoms of irritability restrict emotions, and depression.

Why Do Dads Experience PPD?

Fathers can also experience postpartum depression (PPD) due to various factors, including a history of depression, relationship conflicts, financial stress, and maternal depression. Sleep deprivation and disrupted circadian rhythms, known to affect maternal mental health, may also contribute to PPD in men. Additionally, hormonal changes during and after pregnancy play a role. Studies suggest that lower testosterone levels in new fathers reduce aggression and enhance responsiveness to a baby’s cries, while increased estrogen levels promote more engaged parenting. However, these hormonal shifts can also increase vulnerability to depression. Low testosterone is directly linked to depressive symptoms, and imbalances in estrogen, prolactin, vasopressin, and cortisol may hinder father-infant bonding, further exacerbating PPD symptoms.

In fact the study also goes on to note that fathers can experience prenatal depression like mothers too. While it depends on the kind of environment they are in, here are some of the common reasons why dads feel this way:

Hormonal Changes: As per a 2014 study published in the American Journal of Human Biology, titled Prenatal hormones in first-time expectant parents: Longitudinal changes and within-couple correlations, showed that fathers experience hormonal changes during and after their partner's pregnancy. The main reason is the decline in testosterone.

Feeling Disconnected: While dads also want to be part of the newborn experience, the baby usually spends most of the time with the mother. It may make them feel like they are on the "outside".

Other reasons include the pressure that a father feels. Parenting is not easy, it adds on to financial pressure, and this thought could also lead to depression. Especially, if depression runs in father's family, he is more likely to feel depressed with these changes around him. Most new parents underestimate the role lack of sleep plays in their lives. Staying up all night trying to get your baby to eat or sleep can leave you feeling sleep deprived, which could be one of the reasons why the father too may feel tired and depressed.

What Can Be Done?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that postpartum depression screenings not be solely the responsibility of obstetrician, and it must be done by pediatricians too to incorporate maternal health. However, fathers too should go for such screenings. In fact, in 2020, an editorial in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics called on pediatricians to assess the mental health of all new parents regardless of gender.

The ray of hope here is that more and more people are talking about it and are able to recognize the depression dads also go through. The change is not just for moms, but also for dads, thus it is important that they also are taken care of.

Shoko Kawata, Japan’s first mayor to take maternity leave, has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential rising stars.

The 35-year-old mayor of Yawata City in Kyoto Prefecture sparked a national debate, earlier this year, after announcing she would take maternity leave following the birth of her first child. Her decision came as Japan struggles with declining birth rates and efforts to support women in work and public life.

“I was so surprised because the reaction was so big,” Kawata told the BBC.

Kawata gave birth to a baby girl on September 15. Her decision drew both support and criticism, with some praising her for making it easier for women to enter politics, while critics questioned whether elected officials should step away from public duties after childbirth.

Kawata Took Maternity Leave To Shape Policies

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Kawata defended her decision, saying women should not have to choose between public office and starting a family.

“If we were to criticise politicians taking maternity leave, it means we are effectively excluding all women in their 20s through 40s - women who are capable of becoming pregnant - from public office,” she told the BBC.

Japan provides maternity leave for municipal employees, but there is no specific legal framework for local elected officials. Kawata therefore worked with her office to arrange a 16-week transfer of authority to Deputy Mayor Shigeto Nose, while planning to work remotely when possible.

After giving birth, Kawata said her experience as a new mother would also shape the policies she pursues.

“I want to confront the many challenges facing parents and children today from that same perspective, as someone living through them myself,” she wrote on X.

Why Postpartum Recovery Matters For Working Women

Kawata’s experience also highlights the physical and emotional demands women face after childbirth.

While attention often shifts to the newborn, mothers also need adequate rest, nutrition, medical care and emotional support. For working women, pressure to return to work can add to the challenges of postpartum recovery.

The World Health Organization says the first six weeks after childbirth are a critical period for both mothers and babies, with a large proportion of maternal and infant deaths occurring during the postnatal period.

What Happens To The Body After Childbirth?

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After delivery, the uterus gradually contracts back towards its pre-pregnancy size, which can cause cramping. Women can also experience postpartum bleeding and discharge, known as lochia, for several weeks.

Hormonal changes, particularly the rapid drop in estrogen and progesterone, can affect mood. Breast engorgement, nipple sensitivity and pelvic-floor changes can also occur, sometimes causing urinary leakage or discomfort.

Postpartum Mental Health Also Matters

New mothers are also adjusting to sleep disruption, feeding and the demands of caring for a baby.

Many women experience the “baby blues,” a temporary period of mood changes after childbirth. This is different from postpartum depression, which is more severe and can last longer.

Adequate rest, practical support, medical follow-up and mental-health care can all play an important role in postpartum recovery.

Unsafe sleep factors, including soft bedding, sharing a sleep surface with another person or animal, and sleeping on a surface other than a crib or bassinet, were identified in 73% of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) cases in the US, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

SUID includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and deaths from unknown causes. In 2024, SUID claimed the lives of about 3,400 babies in the US.

Even after decades of public health efforts to promote safer sleep practices, sleep-related deaths remain a major cause of infant mortality.

What Did The CDC Report Find?

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The report analyzed 4,861 SUID cases recorded between 2020 and 2024 across 31 US jurisdictions.

The CDC found that 73% of the deaths involved at least one unsafe sleep factor. These included:

• 78% involved soft bedding.
• 75% occurred on a sleep surface other than a crib or bassinet.
• 59% involved sharing a sleep surface with another person or animal.
• 46% of infants were found sleeping on their stomach or side rather than on their back.
• 28% had documented full airway obstruction involving the nose and mouth, neck, or chest.

These categories could overlap, meaning an infant could have had more than one unsafe sleep factor.

Most SUIDs Occurred In Young Infants

The CDC found that most deaths occurred among infants who were:

• 0–3 months old: 66%
• Male: 57%
• Black or African American: 38%
• White: 37%
• Born at 37 weeks or later: 74%
• Insured by Medicaid: 69%

What Is A Safe Sleep Environment?

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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a safe sleep environment to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths.

The AAP recommends placing babies on their backs to sleep, using a firm, non-inclined sleep surface, room-sharing without bed-sharing, and avoiding soft bedding and overheating.

It also recommends human milk feeding, avoiding exposure to nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and illicit drugs, routine immunization, and pacifier use as measures associated with lower SIDS risk.

“Babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep. Tummy time is important for developing strength and motor skills, but it should take place only when the baby is awake and being actively supervised,” Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University, was quoted as saying by CNN.

Once babies can roll from their backs to their stomachs and back again on their own, parents do not need to keep repositioning them during sleep. However, they should still place babies on their backs at the start of every sleep.

What Should Be In A Baby’s Crib?

Wen recommends that the crib should be empty or nearly empty. Parents should use a firm mattress covered with a fitted sheet and avoid pillows, blankets, quilts, bumper pads, and other soft objects.

If parents are concerned about the baby getting cold, they can use a wearable blanket or well-fitting sleep clothing instead of a loose blanket.

Room-Sharing Is Recommended, Not Bed-Sharing

The AAP recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing, ideally for at least the first six months.

This means keeping the baby’s crib or bassinet close to the parents’ bed for easier feeding and comforting, while ensuring the baby sleeps on a separate surface.

Feeding a newborn is one of the first and most important decisions parents make after birth. There is often debate around breastfeeding versus formula feeding. It is necessary to know the difference between exclusive breastfeeding and formula feeding to help families make informed choices based on the baby’s needs and even the mother’s health. Here, an expert explains both breastfeeding and formula feeding.

Are you new parents?

Know that caring for a newborn usually involves many questions about feeding. Some mothers tend to exclusively breastfeed, while others use formula due to various issues such as low milk supply or other circumstances.

But remember that every family’s situation is different, and parents should make feeding decisions only after consulting the doctor. The priority should be to give the baby safe, adequate nutrition for prompt growth and development.

Also read: Don’t Miss a Beat: Why Every Newborn Deserves a Heart Check

All you need to know about exclusive breastfeeding

Exclusive breastfeeding means feeding a baby only breast milk for the first six months of life. So, the baby will not be given water, formula, juice, or solid foods unless the doctor recommends. So, breast milk consists of nutrients, antibodies, and healthy fats, which are important for the baby’s growth and brain development. Breast milk is important for the baby and can help prevent infections, diarrhoea, and respiratory illnesses, and boosts the baby’s immunity.

Talking about formula feeding, this means giving a baby specially prepared infant formula to provide the nutrients needed for growth. So, formula milk is given when breast milk cannot be given to the baby. Now, modern infant formulas are carefully developed to support healthy growth. However, it doesn’t contain the natural antibodies and immune-protective factors that are present in breast milk. Formula milk should always be prepared safely as per the doctor’s instructions to reduce the baby’s chances of infections or any nutritional problems.

This is what parents should note

Breastfeeding is crucial for the baby as it tends to provide complete nutrition and health benefits for both mother and baby. It also helps enhance the mother and the baby’s bond and reduces the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancers. However, some women will be unable to breastfeed their babies due to certain medical conditions, medications, insufficient milk supply, or other challenges.

So, in such a situation, infant formula is a safe and nutritious alternative when used correctly under medical guidance. Even those babies who are formula-fed can also grow and develop well when they receive appropriate nutrition, are vaccinated, and are taken for regular health check-ups. Instead of comparing feeding methods, ensure to feed the baby well.