My wife Serenity struggled with postpartum anxiety, but neither of us knew what that was. She was having a rough time, but I didn’t know if that was normal, or what to do about it. Learning about Postpartum Depression and Anxiety helped us understand what was happening for her and what to do about it.

This episode is deeply personal. May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, and I want to talk about what can happen for women after they give birth—their brain physically changes, their emotions shift, their anxiety can creep in at 2 a.m. when the house is quiet but she still can’t sleep. 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression and even more have postpartum anxiety. Most dads have no idea what to look for or how to help, I sure didn’t.

So here I felt compelled to share what I’ve learned about how to identify these conditions and what to do about them such as, listening without fixing, setting up real postpartum support plan (yes, with spreadsheets), and how sharing night feedings saved our sanity. From the way motherhood physically rewires a woman’s brain to the quiet moments when you realize she hasn’t had a minute alone in days—this is what we need to talk more about.

If you’re a dad, a partner, or just want to show up better for the moms in your life—this one’s for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What are the real signs of postpartum depression and anxiety?

• How does a woman’s brain change after childbirth?

• How do I respond to my partner’s seemingly irrational fears?

• What is the Fair Play system of household management and how can it saved my relationship?

• How can dads set up a postpartum support system that actually works?

• How and when do I seek professional help?

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Being dadicated isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s about showing up.

It’s about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

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