Dad dot info
Free online course for separated parents
Forum - Ask questions. Get answers.
Free online course for separated parents
DAD.info | Family | Kids | Babies | Landmark survey shows that dads are failed by postnatal services

Landmark survey shows that dads are failed by postnatal services

Maya Griffiths

Maya Griffiths

A new survey carried out by the Fatherhood Institute has exposed how UK postnatal services fail to recognise and care for dads.

The review studied 800 pieces of research into fathers and fatherhood in the first year. The result showed that dads are unsupported and failed by NHS maternity, health visiting and other postnatal services.

How dads are let down

From the outset, fathers are not considered by health services. Health records for babies in the UK only allow the associated record for one adult- the mother. Any records for fathers are held entirely separately and cannot be connected to their family in any way that allows for birth-related research.

Furthermore, fathers have no status as patients of maternity or perinatal services. They are treated as visitors, rather than as central members of a new family.

Because of this exclusion, health topics not discussed with dads include smoking, drinking an obesity, all of which are known to have negative outcomes for children.

A failure to support fathers

Dads currently receive very little help when becoming parents, in terms of advice or education for how to care for their babies.

Dads are also not screened for anxiety, depression, stress or other psychological conditions. This is especially alarming considering that 14% of dads reported feeling so stressed that they might harm their baby.

Fathers are also not provided with information on how to support their partner with breastfeeding or postnatal depression.

Key findings from the report:

Obesity runs in the family

Children of obese fathers are almost three times as likely to be obese than children whose father is not overweight.

The affects on children of smoking parents

Almost 1 new father in 5 is a smoker and mainly smokes in the home. Babies of fathers who smoke are more likely to develop wheeze, asthma, lower respiratory illness, chronic middle ear disease, stunted growth and to fall victim to sudden infant death syndrome.

Alcohol use affects family relationships

Research finds that fathers’ alcoholism is linked with negative father-baby bonding, and alcohol use by dads doubles the risk of an insecure mother-baby attachment.

The lack of research into postnatal stress for dads

Postnatal stress in UK fathers is understudied. For example, studies have not tracked men’s stress levels before and after having a first baby.

Depressed fathers are more likely to behave negatively towards their infant

Fathers’ early depression is associated with: poorer infant development and problematic behaviour in pre-schoolers. It also causes a greater risk of children’s mental health problems at primary school and lower educational achievement at secondary school.

High anxiety levels in dads during baby’s first year has been found to cause recurrent abdominal pain in children later

It is also associated with worryingly rapid weight gain in infants.

Arguments between parents worsens the impact of mother’s depression on children

23% of first-time fathers report conflict with their partner in the year after the birth.

8 in 10 dads say their employer isn’t doing enough to support them

In separate research conducted by Pregnant Then Screwed, 80% of fathers reported that their brief paternity leave wasn’t enough time to bond with their child. In the survey of nearly 8,000 dads, 1 in 4 said they had continued to work while on paternity leave and felt the expectation from their employer that they should. 97% believe that two weeks of paternity leave is not long enough.

Unfortunately, almost half of the dads surveyed said they developed a mental health problem during the first 2 years of their child’s life.

Struggling with parenting? Fegans offers a range of parenting support resources.

Want to chat to other dads? Come and join our friendly forum.

Related entries

Great Places To Take Your Toddler

Great Places To Take Your Toddler

Chris and his son By Chris at Dadology Toddlers are great. They're fun to be around; they're curious about literally everything (especially the stuff they can't have), and they're always up for exploring, which in turn makes you explore too. But when you have a...

Pets for kids: the good, the bad and the scratchy

Pets for kids: the good, the bad and the scratchy

There are many benefits for children in having a pet: not only is a furry companion a fun addition to their lives, but it also teaches them about caring for others, and life and death. The trouble is, pets are a hassle, and require care, expense and time. Choosing a...

Latest entries

Teens are vaping. Is it safe?

Teens are vaping. Is it safe?

Teens have always found ways to flex their independence and rebel- it was normal, years ago, for youths to share cigarettes behind the bike sheds. These days, however, many teenagers have taken to vaping. It may seem like a harmless vice, with the variety of fruity...

Ask Debbie: I wish I had a better bond with my son

Ask Debbie: I wish I had a better bond with my son

Dear Sad Dad, I really feel for you here. It's hard when you are working and don’t feel that you are around as much as you would like to be- and then feel that you don’t have a close relationship with your child. You can build a positive parent-child relationship with...

Great Places To Take Your Toddler

Great Places To Take Your Toddler

Chris and his son By Chris at Dadology Toddlers are great. They're fun to be around; they're curious about literally everything (especially the stuff they can't have), and they're always up for exploring, which in turn makes you explore too. But when you have a...

Pin It on Pinterest