Recent studies show that men can and do get depressed after birth. Men with a new baby in the house have a rate of depression that is nearly 10 percent, twice as high than that of the general male population, says James Paulson, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School. And men are generally much less likely than women to seek care for depression.

Postpartum depression can affect parenting behavior in fathers as well as mothers. Men with elevated levels of depression are less likely to engage in behaviors like talking to their babies, reading to their babies and playing games with them – behaviors that are important for kids' cognitive and emotional development. Babies need their dads!

Symptoms may include feeling tired, down or otherwise not yourself for two weeks or more. If you think you may be depressed, talk to your health care provider as soon as possible.