Midwives are being asked to make more of an effort to involve fathers-to-be in maternity care.Football fixtures FFS? Any man who would prioritise football over his pregnant Mrs does not deserve to be a father. Besides, isn't that terribly sexist? There would be a feminist uproar if it was suggested antenatal classes should be scheduled around shoe shopping. Not all men like football; I bloody hate it.
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) says too often the dad is left out of the process.
It suggests top tips to help include the father, like offering him a chair as well as his partner, during antenatal appointments.
And staff should prepare the man to be a helpful birth partner, so he knows what to do in the labour room.
The 16-page guide Reaching Out: Involving Fathers in Maternity Care is a joint publication produced by the RCM, the Department of Health, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Fatherhood Institute.
To address the issue of fathers being the "invisible parent", maternity wards should provide men's lifestyle magazines to help make fathers feel comfortable, the guidance suggests, and antenatal classes should be arranged around their work commitments and even football fixtures, it says.
Maybe men don't feel included because they no longer are. Read any MSM story about children these days, be it the rising cost of childcare, pressure of raising children, school issues, discipline etc, there is never any mention of fathers or even parents. It's always mums, mothers and pregnant women.
Family has no meaning anymore and fathers are always left out. May as well go and watch the football.
17 Comments:
A man will only get in the way and spead germs.
He should be out earning a living. That is what it is all about.
Ohhh, indeed! I can hear the deafening screams from the 'Guardian' now. Who knows, it might even knock their current love-in with the Occupy fiasco off the top spot...
Anon2 - Sounds like a sensible philosophy
Julia - It may be a contender :-)
Of course, and quite right too. It should be scheduled around sandwich making in the kitchen.
And I hope Mrs Exile never reads that.
Too bloody right. My firstborn arrived in the world on Christmas day 1994. 24 hours later and I would have missed it having to attend the all important Manchester City v Blackburn Boxing Day fixture.
I think you'll find he's already had his partner.
Most of the time the Mother doesn't even know who the Father is.
Perhaps they should just then invite all the 'possibles'
Anon - That would require a lot of chairs. Maybe they just don't have the room.
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