SOTD – After I Gave Birth And My Husband Saw the Face of Our Baby, He Began Sneaking Out Every Night – So I Followed Him

Instead of confronting him immediately, I reached out to the center the next day. I learned that birth trauma is a shared experience that often affects partners just as deeply as the mother. While women are often monitored for postpartum depression, men frequently slip through the cracks, left to process the near-loss of their spouses in isolation. Around 10% of new fathers experience paternal postpartum depression, and up to 5% of fathers develop PTSD following a traumatic birth. Without intervention, these statistics can lead to long-term bonding issues and marital strain.

Armed with this knowledge, I attended a partners’ support group and eventually sat Ryan down for a gentle, honest conversation. I told him I knew where he had been and, more importantly, that I understood why. The relief that washed over him was visible. We realized that we couldn’t heal in separate rooms; we had to be a team.

Today, two months into couples counseling, the atmosphere in our home has transformed. Ryan no longer sneaks out in the dark; instead, he spends his mornings cradling Lily, his eyes filled with a love that is finally stronger than his fear. We learned the hard way that birth is not just a beginning, but a profound transformation that requires grace for both parents. We are no longer haunted by the night I almost died; we are focused on the life we are lucky enough to live together.