Yes, Your Partner Can Experience Postpartum Depression, Too

Your mom calls hourly. Your friends are checking in. Your OB-GYN and your baby’s pediatrician screen you for postpartum depression (PPD). People in your life are concerned about your mental well-being, and it makes sense. After all, moms endure the physical aftermath of giving birth, not to mention the eat-play-sleep grind, hormonal shifts, and the general chaos of having a newborn at home.

But you don’t have to give birth to feel like your entire world has been turned upside down by a baby. Non-birthing parents can experience postpartum depression, too — research suggests up to one in 10 fathers experience PPD, particularly in the first three to six months after the baby arrives.

That said, their symptoms can look different from the stereotypical picture of a new parent quietly crying in the nursery. That’s why experts say that despite how common PPD is among partners, their mental health struggles are often overlooked and unaddressed. That can weigh heavily on everyone in the family.

Why PPD Can Happen In Non-Birthing Parents

The postpartum period comes with a wave of hormonal changes that can drastically impact mood for mothers. After you give birth, your levels of estrogen and progesterone drop off, which can trigger postpartum depression, according to research in CNS Spectrums. A similar physical shift happens for non-birthing parents. For example, the more time a father spends with the child, his “testosterone starts to lower, which is correlated with depression,” says Sheehan Fisher, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist who’s conducted extensive research into postpartum depression in dads.

Socioeconomic and environmental factors can also contribute to PPD among non-birthing parents — the worries that come with new parenthood, limited parental leave, or feeling like the “secondary” parent despite how much they’re involved, says Fisher.

Finally, non-birthing parents are more likely to experience PPD if the birthing parent has PPD as well, according to the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. A 2025 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine looked at more than 15,000 mother-father couples, and dads whose partners had PPD were 1.8 times more likely to develop the condition.

That doesn’t mean birthing parents should feel at fault in some way — you didn’t “give” your partner PPD, says Michelle Markowitz, LMSW, a licensed social worker who specializes in perinatal mental health. “Correlation does not mean causation,” says Markowitz. “Your PPD did not cause your partner’s PPD. It's more that the transition of having a new baby causes stress on the entire family system.”

What PPD Can Look Like In Non-Birthing Parents

In general, postpartum depression in non-birthing parents “manifests the same as it does for the birthing parent, minus the impact of the hormonal rollercoaster that birthing parents contend with,” says Linda Baggett, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles, CA. Symptoms can include a depressed mood, out-of-character irritability, difficulty bonding with the baby, an inability to enjoy activities, and fatigue and low energy (beyond the impact from a newborn, of course), according to StatPearls.

The difference between typical “baby blues” and postpartum depression is in duration and intensity. While there’s no standard timeline for non-birthing parents, it’s considered a sign of PPD if birthing parents experience these symptoms for longer than two weeks, according to the National Library of Medicine.

“In parents with PPD, the depression takes over and interferes with their ability to be themselves, interact with their partner and baby, or function — even with basics like eating and sleeping,” says Baggett.

For fathers specifically, “a lot of times they also display something called ‘masculine depression’, which can include symptoms like hyperaggression, hypersexuality, or even substance use as a way to mask and cope with their distress,” says Fisher.

Research has shown that perceived stigma has historically contributed to some men's resistance to seeking help for mental health, and Fisher attributes these same cultural taboos to the differences in how men display depression. Men may be more conditioned to show aggression rather than shed tears when they’re upset, he says. “Society has encouraged men to express their emotions in these more externalizing toxic ways, which can manifest during parenthood,” he adds.

These types of symptoms can actually hide the depression — both from the fathers experiencing it firsthand and people around them, who might otherwise notice the typical PPD symptoms associated with women.

How to Support Non-Birthing Parents Through PPD

If you’re a new dad or parenting partner reading this, know that the best thing you can do is “notice that something feels off, and talk about it honestly with a trusted person," says Markowitz. "That could be your partner, a friend, or family member."

It might feel uncomfortable to ask for help — especially if you feel like the stronghold of the family or as though you need to toughen up — but don’t wait. If you (or your partner) suspect you might have PPD, tap a mental health professional or start with your primary care doctor for a referral, says Fisher.

You can also find resources such as one-on-one peer support and groups for dads, LGBTQ families, and adoptive families through Postpartum Support International. And don’t balk at the idea of a “dad’s group.” These meetups help the non-birthing parent build a sense of community as they find their footing in this new role, says Fisher.

Moms, you might be struggling, too, but talking with your partner about how they’re feeling can help you both. Approach the conversation with curiosity, not judgment, says Markowitz. It can be harder for non-birthing parents to speak up, adds Baggett. "Say something if you don't feel your partner is themselves, and ask what they need from you."

At the end of the day, both parents undergo a huge identity shift when a new baby enters the picture, so think of settling into this new era as something you can work on together. A good approach might be: “How do we retain ourselves and our relationship to ensure we reserve parts of ourselves and our relationships that really matter to us while still being fully involved parents?” suggests Fisher.

Addressing your emotions together can strengthen your relationship while helping you be a present, healthy parent. And remember: PPD doesn’t make you a bad parent or a bad partner. It just means you need a little support, too, and that’s okay.

Presented by BDG Studios