Understanding postnatal depression (men get it too!)

Grandads are great aren’t they? They step in to help out when day care falls through, they spoil your kids (like they never spoiled you). But what are the unwritten rules of grandparenting? And how should new parents manage this relationship. Midwife Cath and Chris Taylor tackle these questions and more on the final episode of this season of Birth Baby and Beyond.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Australia one in five women and one in ten men get post-natal depression, but how much do you know about post-natal depression? Cath and Chris talk about the symptoms of PND, how to support your partner and how to find help.  LINKS:  https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/   https://panda.org.au/get-support/support-dads   https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/pregnancy-and-new-parents  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As life starts to settle back into some shape of normalcy, you may notice that there’s something missing. As a new parent that “something” is probably sleep. Sleep deprivation can be a challenge for new parents. Cath and Chris discuss ways we can manage the sleepless nights, particularly when you’ve gone back to work.  LINKS:  https://rednose.org.au/section/safe-sleeping  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming home from hospital can be scary. Suddenly, keeping a small human alive is up to you. The good news is both Chris and Cath have some very simple and practical tips on how to feel confident in the first weeks and months at home with your new baby.  LINKS:  https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/support-for-parents  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fair enough, blokes can’t breast feed, but there are plenty of things you can do to support your partner in this stage your newborn’s life. Midwife Cath explains what to expect in the first days and weeks of your baby’s life, as well as how you can bond with your baby (without needing boobs). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s go time! The day has finally come! Midwife Cath takes you through when it’s time to head into the hospital, what labour looks (and sounds) like, what you can do to support your partner during contractions and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve got a rough date for when the baby is due (or maybe you have a caesarean section booked in) but are you prepared for the big day? Having recently gone through the experience Chris has a few thoughts on what you might need to be best prepared, and Midwife Cath has some ideas as well. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might think there’s only one way a baby is born – but you’d be wrong. In this episode Midwife Cath takes Chris Taylor through all the ways babies come into the world, including where and how they arrive. We’re talking public vs private hospitals, with or without pain relief and more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now you know what’s happening in your partner’s body, how can you help them while they deal with all the nausea, pelvic pain and hormonal changes they’re going through?  Chris always wanted to be as involved as he could; in this episode he gets some tips from Cath on all the ways men can make life a little easier during pregnancy.  Maternal and Child Health Line Victoria: 13 22 29  LINKS: https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/   https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/fact-sheets?gclid=Cj0KCQjwtO-kBhDIARIsAL6Lore3u9mHB-0xhz4szVm-5xsJ6EiE2r7l-s47IUUcGREVAm-dkWNyRqoaApozEALw_wcB  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the excitement of finding out you’re going to be a dad, the next nine months can be a bit of a mystery. Your partner is carrying the baby and feels all the things… but as men – we can’t feel so connected. In this episode Midwife Cath and Chris explore all the changes that happen during the nine months of pregnancy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.