‘Baby trap’ is a term used by some to describe when a woman intentionally tries to become pregnant simply to maintain or develop a relationship with a man.
Recently, pregnant mom-to-be and Reddit user ThrowRATucanTucans was accused of this controversial practice.
However, it was her husband of seven years who asserted that their journey to parenthood was not a mutual decision.
Continue scrolling to learn her story, which serves as a reminder that even marriages can be full of unexpected twists and turns.
Pregnancy entails a lot of emotional challenges for the parents
Image credits: kryzhov / envato (not the actual photo)
And sadly, this woman’s husband got cold feet
Image credits: cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Timur Weber / pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: AfterHeat4755
Sadly, many soon-to-be fathers experience anxiety
Image credits: Kelly Sikkema / unsplash (not the actual photo)
Recent research emphasizes that not only do (soon to be) dads experience major developmental changes in the transition to fatherhood, they are also vulnerable to mental health challenges during this transition.
A 2019 meta-analysis of studies found that the highest risk of depression during pregnancy for expecting fathers occurred during the first trimester. The study also revealed that postpartum depression was highest among men when the baby was 3- to 6-months-old.
According to Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, M.D., who is the Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center's William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, a variety of factors can play a role in dads developing prenatal or postpartum depression, including:
- Hormones. Research has shown that fathers experience hormonal changes during and after their partner’s pregnancy, particularly declines in testosterone.
- Partner's depression. Up to half of men with depressed partners show signs of depression as well
- Feeling disconnected from mom and baby. Dads want to be part of the newborn experience, but often they feel as if they’re on the “outside.” Moms may not always realize they’re excluding dad from caring for the baby. Or they may be so caught up in bonding with the baby, they fail to recognize dad wants time with the little one, too.
- Personal or family history of depression. Any history of depression or other mental illness raises the risk of prenatal or postpartum depression.
- Psychological adjustment to parenthood. Becoming a parent requires significant coping skills. This can be overwhelming for moms and dads.
- Sleep deprivation. Most new parents underestimate the role a lack of sleep can play in developing symptoms of anxiety and depression. They also often underestimate just how sleep-deprived they are!
Other factors that may contribute to paternal postpartum depression include having a colicky or premature baby, financial stress, relationship problems, recent loss or trauma, and lack of social support for parenting, like, for example, not getting parental leave at work.
However, while there were plenty of reasons why ThrowRATucanTucans's husband could've freaked out, the way he dealt with everything is still hard to sympathize with.
People who read the woman’s story have had many strong reactions to it
