Single dad

Postpartum depression is traditionally thought to affect exclusively moms as they are the ones who go through the most significant changes in their bodies and their psyches. However, it is common among dads too. In fact, a recent study published in the August 2006 issue of the journal Pediatrics, reports that about ten percent of all fathers in the U. S. are affected by postpartum depression.

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Despite all the reading and preparation, nothing can quite prepare you for the feelings you'll have during the first few weeks after delivery. Here are some of the emotions many new fathers feel:

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While being a dad may look daunting, unpleasant, demanding or frightening to the uninitiated, nothing can prepare you for how you'll feel when it's your baby. Before our first, my wife wanted to borrow someone else’s baby for a weekend to "try it out."

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Despite all the reading and preparation, nothing can quite prepare you for the feelings you’ll have during the first few weeks after delivery. Here are some of the emotions many new fathers feel:

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As a dad, sometimes it's hard to know what to do with a newborn, especially if when you're new to all this. Don't let the awkwardness get in the way of spending time getting close to your new little guy or girl.

Here are a few fun things dads can do that you might try:

1. Strip the baby down to nothing or a diaper and lay him or her on a white sheet or blanket. Grab your camera and set the exposure controls to the smallest aperture possible - f12 or f16. Take a good inventory of the baby body parts (with obvious exceptions). With the smallest exposure setting, only what you are directly focusing on will be in focus in the shot.

2. Take pictures of your baby naked held in the palm of your hand. The window of opportunity for this is small so does it now. If you don't, a year from now you'll be at a party and see this kind of photo hanging in someone's hallway and you'll regret the opportunity that will never come again.

3. Strip down to the waist and enjoy the sensation of a newly bathed baby lying on your chest. This is the closest we can get to what moms feel, and it's not half bad. I wouldn't do it every day, but it's not bad. You will feel closer to your child than you did moments before, if only because you literally are closer to him.

4. Go for a stroll anywhere with the baby in a baby Bjorn, and enjoy the unique feeling of being a new dad. Everyone else will know you are as well.

5. Fall asleep with baby on your chest (just make sure mom is around to remove him in case you roll around).

6. Read a book to your baby. Love for books and reading starts early with experience and role models.

And some things not to do:
1. Resist the temptation to set your newborn baby in a salad bowl or flowerpot. You'll feel very guilty about the frightened look they get when you make fun of them.

2. And seriously, never, ever leave the baby unattended on counter, changing table, or in the bath, even for just a moment.