What Your Partner May Be Experiencing

Your partner might seem distant, detached, or distracted, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t care. They could be overwhelmed too, unsure of how to help, or struggling with their own adjustment to parenthood.

In perinatal couples, it’s common for one partner to emotionally withdraw—not out of apathy, but as a way to manage stress, avoid conflict, or mask feelings of inadequacy. Especially when the focus has shifted so heavily to the baby, it can be hard to know how to reconnect.