Issues with husband postpartum
I planned this pregnancy and prepared the most I could to make sure I was mentally and physically ready to handle it after having a traumatic experience with my first one 15 years ago. I made sure to discuss it with the husband all this time to be on the same page. He knows I was very afraid of having another bad experience.
My husband did great during my pregnancy but since the day prior of the C-section he had an anxiety attack and just became more quiet and distant with me.
I have been thinking that he was nervous but it’s been 3 weeks and he has remained cold with me. He’s been great with the baby though, no complaints at all with that. But during my postpartum he’s been acting like a real jerk, made me cry all the way from the hospital to the house the day I got released with a bad and sarcastic attitude towards me. It seems like it bothers him when I ask him for help.
It’s been so unexpected and disappointing I have fantasized leaving him many times. He has made my postpartum so difficult. Even made fun of me because I was planning on BF only and ended up doing combo feeds because the baby wasn’t getting full then preceded to tell me I no longer have a sense of humor.. I’m just hurt by his insensitive behavior during this time that I need him the most.
anyone else’s husband behaving this way? Could it be postpartum depression for him?
You mention that your husband was doing really good during your pregnancy and that his mood didn’t change until he had an anxiety attack right before your c-section? I’ve read that they’re finding men can also experience postpartum trauma from the birth (from being scared for their wife and baby) and they also may get their own form of postpartum which could develop from anxiety about becoming a parent, anxiety or trauma from the birth, lack of sleep, changes in day to day life, feeling isolated, and/or testosterone drop (fun fact: we put off pheromones that cause our significant other to have a drop in testosterone after a baby..). He could truly just be being an ass.. or he could be struggling with some mental health issues or as Yaren said, your hormones could also be making you feel this way. You should definitely try gently talking to him about how you are feeling and to see if he needs help also.