98086162 1

Transitions to parenthood: Assignment 2

Traditionally, Fathers have not always been involved in
supporting mothers during their pregnancy, attending the birth
of their baby and raising their children due to personal
preference, societal norms or institutional regulations present
in previous contexts. However, in contemporary times, Fathers
have fortunately become more engaged in raising and caring
for their children, as well as supporting their partners during
childbirth (May & Fletcher 2012). The involvement of Fathers in
Maternity care is strongly related to long-term health benefits
for the mother, infant and family. Fathers have an
unprecedented role in supporting mothers during pregnancy,
birth, and care of the infant once born (Steen et al. 2011). This
support not only has the ability to foster good health outcomes
for mothers and babies, but plays a part in positively shaping
the life of the family and promoting childrens physical, social
and cognitive development from infancy through to adulthood
(Sarkadi et al. 2008). The aim of this essay is to explore the
importance, benefits and ways of engaging and supporting
fathers and how Midwives can facilitate this involvement from
the antenatal, through to the postnatal settings.
Involving fathers in antenatal settings is pivotal to influencing
their expectation of their future as a parent, as well as
preparing them for the joys and challenges of fatherhood
(Andrews 2012). Making fathers participants in antenatal care
encourages them to be a primary source of support for their
partner throughout the journey of pregnancy and childbirth,
increasing the likelihood of healthier relationships between the
father, mother and family (Draper & Ives 2012). Attending
antenatal appointments and classes additionally gives the
father a much more defined role and a concrete sense of
themselves as a father, which can increase the likelihood of
men bonding with their baby more quickly once they are born

(Draper & Ives 2013). The establishment of these positive

relationships can produce more cognitively able and more
successful children as well as a more cohesive family unit with
greater health and social outcomes (Sarkadi 2008). Moreover,
antenatal education that engages fathers has the potential to
increase the duration of breastfeeding, as mothers with
supportive partners are much more likely to breastfeed for
longer periods of time and to do so for as long as they initially
intended to in the antenatal period (Maycock et al. 2013).
Thus, it is fundamental that Midwives engage fathers in
antenatal care, due to the numerous benefits their contribution
presents to their future and the future of the mother and baby.
Fathers participation in antenatal care can be increased and
encouraged in many ways. First of all, the way in which
antenatal services are advertised can affect whether fathers
feel welcome to attend, for instance, in the case where the
term parents is used instead of mothers and fathers, as
the word parents is usually attributed to mothers only (Fisher
2007). In addition, the timing of antenatal classes and
appointments should be organised to suit the mother and
father, to make it possible for them to attend outside of normal
working hours if this is more convenient to them (Royal College
of midwives 2011). Furthermore, the content of antenatal
education should also be adjusted to include fathers, and cover
topics such as: their changing role as they become fathers,
how and where to seek help if fathers are enduring any
psychological distress, provide ways to be a more supportive
partner by improving their understanding of what the mother is
facing throughout pregnancy and childbirth as well as paternalinfant attachment (May & Fletcher 2012). In addition, inviting
fathers to attend scans such as ultrasound can additionally

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Transitions to parenthood: Assignment 2
make them feel more involved and encourage them to become
active participants in the care of the woman (Fisher 2007).
In present times, more and more fathers are attending the birth
of their child and want to be involved (Hildingsson, Cederlof &
Widen 2010). According to a study conducted by Hildingsson,
Cederlof & Widen (2010), 82% of fathers report having a
positive experience when they are present at the birth of their
baby. Fathers who are present at the birth of their child are
more likely to quickly develop an attachment with their child in
comparison to fathers who do not attend the birth (Lupton &
Barclay 1999). This is because they are more receptive to the
infant at the time of birth (Kaplan 2004). This attachment leads
to positive social and health outcomes for the child, as shown
by Sarkadi (2008), in a study, which highlights the direct
association between strong paternal-child attachment and
increased mental, social and physical development in later life.
This is not only beneficial to the infants future, but also to the
father as it more distinctly marks the beginning of becoming a
father, making the transition to parenthood more of a reality
for the father and the family (Steen et al. 2011). Moreover, the
presence of fathers at the birth of the child and the assistance
they provide with meeting the needs of the infant after birth is
also of great importance and benefit to mothers, as it is
perceived as an invaluable support to them and equips them
psychologically in their journey to motherhood (Liamputtong
2003).
On the other hand, not all Fathers have a positive experience
when attending the birth of their child (Longworth & Kingdon
2010). This is due to the fact that Fathers may have a
traumatic experience, which has the potential to damage a
couples relationship in the psychological, sexual and mental

aspects (Odent 2008). Additionally, fathers may feel a sense of

transparency in the birth room, as most of the attention of the
birth attendants is given to the woman, leaving the father
feeling helpless, marginalised and without a definite role
(Koppel & Kaiser 2001). This negative experience can in turn
delay the father-child attachment and make the transition to
parenthood increasingly difficult for both father and child.
Midwives should henceforth encourage fathers to take an
active supporting role in the birth by giving them tasks to do,
examples such as massaging their partners to help with the
pain, as well as helping their partner get into different birth
positions can make the father feel more included. Keeping the
fathers informed at all times can also help involve them during
intrapartum care and make their experiences more positive
(Royal College of Midwives 2011). Allowing fathers to cut the
cord, can also make the experience all the more incredible and
memorable, as research shows, enabling fathers to bond with
the neonate much more easily (Brandao & Figueiredo 2012).
Maintaining a supportive and reassuring presence, as well as
explaining all procedures and what is happening as the labour
progresses are among the things Midwives can do to make the
experience as positive as possible for fathers, as keeping them
informed can reduce feelings of helplessness and uncertainty
(Hildingsson, Cederlof & Widen 2010). Henceforth, Midwives
must be thoughtful and mindful of the significance of the
fathers presence at the birth of their child, trying to engage
and involve them as much as possible. This will make the
experience of witnessing their partner give birth a more
constructive one, which will facilitate an easier and less
turbulent transition into fatherhood (Longworth & Kingdon
2010).

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Transitions to parenthood: Assignment 2

Transitions are periods of change where there are alterations

from one lifestyle to another (Deave & Johnson 2008). The
transition to fatherhood becomes more manifest during and
after the birth of the infant, as the stresses and joys associated
with the birth of a child result in more intense and tangible
transmutations than any other time in the life of a family (Priel
& Besser 2002). Consequently, Midwives should support
expectant and new fathers by giving them, as well as mothers
a chance to debrief after the birth of the child, ask any
questions and ensuring they know where and how to seek
support when it is needed (Deave & Johnson 2008).
The postnatal period is a very important time as it is when
bonding with the neonate occurs most quickly (Draper & Ives
2013). Accordingly, midwives should be a source of support
and guidance to not only mothers, but fathers as well, to
enable an easy transition to becoming parents and to get the
family as a whole to start their transition to becoming a family
on a positive note (Fisher 2007). Midwives should aim to assist
fathers in transitioning inot their role by teaching them
whatever they are teaching mothers, including baby care,
reading infant cues, how to breastfeed and how to bottle feed if
this is what the parents have chosen, to name a few
suggestions (Halle et al. 2008). This can create a safe and
therapeutic environment, which is what fathers and mothers
need at the beginning of their journey into becoming parents.
This will surely make them feel more welcome to participate in
maternity care and inspire them to become active in their role
as fathers and partners. This not only benefits the health of the
father, but also the health of the baby as well as the mother
both physically and mentally (Plantin, Olukoya & Ny 2011).

To conclude, a more holistic approach to maternity care, which

not only meets the needs of mothers, but also engages fathers,
is ideal as it is more likely to result in better outcomes for the
parents and family. Midwives can make fathers feel more
welcome to actively participate in the care they receive, by
providing a forum for them to ask questions, seek support and
learn skills as well as encourage this learning that will be vital
to their role as fathers. This will make maternity care more
family-centred and more suitable to not only women becoming
mothers, but also to men becoming fathers.

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Suzie, S., Dale, S. & Karen, M. 2015, 'Does antenatal
education prepare fathers for their role as birth
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