We talk a lot about maternal mental health postpartum. But we do not talk enough about dads.

In this episode, my husband joins me for an honest conversation about paternal mental health, birth trauma, pressure, and what it felt like to become a father while navigating medical complications and the early days of the pandemic.

We discuss the silent expectations placed on fathers to be “the strong one,” to go back to work quickly, to provide, and to hold everything together — often without anyone asking how they are actually doing.

This episode is about normalizing the fact that postpartum mental health affects both parents.

We talk about:

• Why paternal mental health is often overlooked

• The impact of traumatic birth experiences on dads

• The pressure to return to work quickly, especially in medicine

• Sleep deprivation, financial stress, and identity shifts

• How the pandemic intensified anxiety for healthcare workers

• Why therapy is not just for crisis, but for maintenance

• Reparenting yourself while parenting your children

• How prioritizing mental health makes you a more present partner and parent

Want more? Listen to the full, ⁠⁠⁠original episode⁠⁠⁠.

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