A new father revealed that he suffered postpartum depression after the birth of his first baby boy, claiming that he cried uncontrollably when he was not able to bond with his child.
Jack Post made the stunning admission on "The Christian O'Connell Radio Show" on Thursday, September 8. He made the revelation five months after his wife, Bianca, gave birth to their first kid, Gordon.
The 34-year-old radio presenter declared that it all started when his son was born in March. He said he was so excited for him and felt he did a 10/10 job of being a husband right up to the birth. Something changed, however, after his son was born, and it was really strange for him.
Post did not immediately fall in love with his son, prompting feelings of shame
He admitted that he did not immediately fall in love with his baby Gordon, prompting the new dad to experience feelings of shame. He confessed that he felt guilt and shame for bringing this little guy into the world, and he was meant to love him so much, yet he could not feel that for him.
Post said he spent nights crying uncontrollably in his son's nursery as he could not understand his own emotions. He said that his wife Bianca was the one who did all the work, bringing their son into the world and going through the pregnancy, but he was the one who was depressed and crying on the floor.
Post candidly confessed that he felt so much guilt and shame and embarrassment about that, according to the New York Post. Three months after the birth of Gordon, he decided to ask for help from a therapist, who told him that he was suffering from postpartum depression.
The radio presenter was shocked to hear that, saying he did not even know new fathers could get that. Post thought it was something they had to be worried about for Bianca as he knows there is a high rate of post-natal depression in new moms, but he was the one feeling it instead.
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Dads also suffer from postpartum depression
A report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that about 10 percent of dads become depressed before or just after their baby is born. Psychologist Scott Bea told the Cleveland Clinic that new dads, like new moms, experience real changes in their hormone levels after a child is born.
Post said he was initially embarrassed to speak to a therapist about his struggles. However, he found that therapy changed everything and the new dad soon began bonding with baby Gordon. The tot is now six months old, with the dad and son enjoying a close connection.
