Don’t Dismiss Dad

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We all know dads are important, and now science agrees, writes Dr. Oscar Duke 

Spare a thought for the dads-to-be, banished to a stool in the corner of the antenatal clinic, like a naughty schoolboy who’s just been caught sending inappropriate snapshot shots of his classmates.

Of course, men aren’t yet doing the vital carrying, growing or breastfeeding roles of mums, but to underestimate the importance of dad is a huge error – now backed up by science itself.

An informed and supported birth partner has been shown to reduce complications during pregnancy and labour, particularly leading to a reduction in the pain experienced by a woman during childbirth.

Once the newborn has safely arrived, dads are pivotal in providing emotional support for their partner, they can be influential advocates of breastfeeding, and can provide invaluable early detection and impending postnatal depression or psychosis.

As a child grows and develops, involved dads – whether living with their children or not – have been show to improve outcomes across virtually all domains, from increased academic achievement to reduced levels of anxiety and depression.

In the biology classes of days gone by, you will most likely have studied the hormonal changes women undergo each month as they travel through their menstrual cycle, and the significant impact that becoming pregnant has on these.

If the specifics of oestrogen and progesterone have, like for most people, faded entirely from your memory, it may surprise you to learn that men too undergo hormonal changes as they enter fatherhood.

Dads-to-be living with their pregnancy partner develop equal levels of the hormone oxytocin in a phenomenon known as bio-behavioural synchrony.

This is nature’s way of tightly bonding a couple as they prepare to start a family together and is a hormone that’s closely linked to nurturing and caring behaviors in dads.

So much so, that when a group of new dads had an extra dose of synthetic oxytocin sprayed up their nose, psychologists observed marked increase in child bonding, interaction and sympathetic play.

Brain imaging in new dads also shows an increase in the size and activity of the limbic region – the part of the brain responsible for nurturing and risk detection – which increases in primary care giving same-sex dads to the same extent as it does in new mums.

While brain regions are growing, men and women might be shocked to discover that new dads experience a drop in testosterone with an associated reduction in testicular size while in reality, this physical ‘shrinkage’ is probably so insignificant it mostly goes unnoticed, the testosterone drop is thought to be an evolutionary mechanism to prevent men immediately leaving their partner in search of a new mate and to further enhance their desire to care for their offspring.

Dr. Duke’s top bonding tips for Dads

Daddy Daycare

Breastfeeding is incredibly bonding for mum and baby and dads can replicate this calming and bonding experience with skin to skin contact in the first days, weeks and months.

The Eyes Have It

Maintaining eye contact with your little one will enhance their feeling of security and warmth.

Calmly Does It

You don’t always need to distract your baby by talking to him, just lie back, relax and enjoy some quiet time.

Leave The Nappy

Dealing with awkward messes can interfere with that bonding process. So take all clothing off your baby to get maximum skin-to-skin benefit but leave the nappy firmly in place.

Taken from How to be a Dad by Dr Oscar Duke, published by Kyle Books, £12.99 . Visit here

 

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