# From Couple to Co-Parents: The Psychological Shift Every New Dad Goes Through | S9 | E217

An episode of [Sense by Meg Faure: Real Life Parenting](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1597437412), 2 Jul 2026, 32 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/1160c4ca4/podcast/play/124214848/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-7-14%2F429832003-44100-2-fc1775c3639ec.mp3

When a baby arrives, the spotlight falls on the mother. Her body, her recovery, her bond with the baby. But there's a quieter transformation happening on the other side of the room. A man is becoming a father, and almost nobody is asking how he's doing. Meg Faure sits down with psychologist Dr Ange Nespola to talk about what dads actually go through in those first weeks and months. The identity shift, the loss of connection to their partner, the pressure to hold it together and the postnatal depression that often gets missed entirely. In This Episode You'll Learn • Why becoming a dad is a major identity transformation, not just a support role • What "primary maternal preoccupation" is, and what it means for a father's place in the family system • Why marital satisfaction drops for most couples in the first year • How to bring dad into hands-on caregiving without pushing him out • Why so many dads feel like a third wheel, especially during breastfeeding • The real numbers on paternal postnatal depression, why it looks different to maternal depression and why it's so often missed • How to navigate the division of labour without turning it into a tally • A practical approach to splitting night shifts that doesn't leave both parents sleep deprived ABOUT THE GUEST Dr Ange Nespola is a psychologist who works with couples navigating the transition to parenthood, drawing on both clinical practice and her own recent experience as a mother of two. Follow Dr. Ange Instagram Website EPISODE REFERENCES • Gottman Institute research on marital satisfaction after childbirth • D.W. Winnicott's concept of primary maternal preoccupation, ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST Sense by Meg Faure is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance through pregnancy, babyhood and the toddler years. Hosted by Occupational Therapist, author and parenting expert Meg Faure. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense. Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app. Download HERE FOLLOW US: Meg Faure: Website Instagram LinkedIn Parent Sense: Website Instagram LinkedIn #NewFatherhood #PostnatalDepressionInDads #MarriageAfterBaby #ParentSense #EvidenceBasedParenting

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