New parents will have dreams and aspirations for their new child. But, for many parents, the arrival of a new baby brings the reality of sleepless nights, depression, wider family interference and economic pressures. Indeed, 67 per cent of new parents report a sharp drop in relationship satisfaction in the first three years of a child’s life (Gottman 2005).

Perinatal and postnatal depression and conflict

Either co-parent can suffer from depression in this period, and it is likely to be the cause of conflict or may well exacerbate other stressful factors.

Mothers’ perinatal and postnatal depression could include partner-related factors which may also be conflict triggering: for example, his being unavailable at the time of the baby’s birth, insufficient emotional or practical support. 

Fathers’ depression can also play a part in conflict. A meta-analysis (43 studies) found an average 10.4 percent of fathers become depressed both pre- and postnatally, with the peak time for fathers’ depression being between three and six months after the birth (Paulson & Bazemore, 2010).