Fathers Still 'Shut Out' From Birth Of Their Children, Report Claims, UK

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Men's health;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 03 Apr 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Leading fatherhood think-tank the Fatherhood Institute will launch a 12 point action plan on April 14, over claims that maternity services across the UK are disadvantaging children from birth by 'shutting out' their fathers.

The report: The Dad Deficit: The Missing Piece of the Maternity Jigsaw, will argue that paternal involvement at birth is still treated as the 'icing on the cake' - despite both a mass of evidence proving the profound long term benefits to the child and mother of the father's involvement at birth and the support of many maternity professionals for change.

The report's 12 point action plan will include a call for mothers and fathers to stay together overnight on postnatal wards, for there to be a change in birth registration so that both parents sign the birth certificate and for the introduction professional training for midwives to include engagement with fathers

The Dad Deficit: The Missing Piece of the Maternity Jigsaw will also include first-hand evidence from fathers, mothers and maternity professionals highlighting the importance of involving fathers in maternity services; and the current failure of the system to do so.

The Fatherhood Institute: the UK's fatherhood think-tank

-- The Institute (charity reg. no. 1075104):

- collates and publishes international research on fathers, fatherhood and different approaches to engaging with fathers by public services and employers

- helps shape national and local policies to ensure a father-inclusive approach to family policy

- injects research evidence on fathers and fatherhood into national debates about parenting and parental roles

- lobbies for changes in law, policy and practice to dismantle barriers to fathers' care of infants and children

- is the UK's leading provider of training, consultancy and publications on father-inclusive practice, for public and third sector agencies and employers.

Fatherhood Institute