Any tips on how to offer support to my husband who I suspect has postpartum depression?
He’s been very low for months, snappy and short tempered and is really struggling to bond with our baby (8 months old).
Our baby is obsessed with me and basically rejects his dad if I am present, or cries for me as soon as he sees me even if he was happily playing with dad a minute earlier. The constant rejection is really getting my husband down and he even says he sometimes hates our son.
We need help but I don’t know how to help him… tips please?
He won’t go to the doctor about it.
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I really relate to so much of this. At 8 months old, separation anxiety is at its peak, and babies naturally cling to their primary comfort.
The best thing you can do is leave the house entirely for like an hour. When you aren't an option, your baby will naturally turn to dad for comfort, which will give them a real chance to bond without the pressure.
However, hearing him say he hates your son is definitely heartbreaking and concerning. It sounds like he is experiencing severe burnout and resentment from the constant rejection. Since he won't see a doctor, try framing a doctor's visit as just a physical checkup for his sleep/energy levels, sometimes that is easier for men to accept.
Hang in there, it is a phase and it will pass!