The role of a father in his child’s life extends past the knowledge of far too many, and can oftentimes be eclipsed by the role of the mother. Although the mother’s role is essential and greatly valued in a child’s life and development, the father plays a significant role as well. No mother can fill the father’s place in a child’s heart, for fathers nurture and play differently than a mother. Several studies show that an attendant and highly involved father is critical, especially in the early stages of a child’s life. The absence of a father during this stage can lead to “impaired social and behavioral abilities in adults” (Robert, 2013). But what is the role of the father? This paper discusses the role of the expectant father, the birth experience for him, the transition into fatherhood, and the rise of single fathers. Although the expectant father’s role is not as clear and defined as the expectant mother’s, fathers still play a large part in all aspects of the pregnancy and birth. In earlier times, the father’s role was limited and overlooked, but this has changed drastically. Today, they are encouraged, and often expected to attend all doctor’s visits, take birthing classes, and even serve as a labor coaches during delivery. The typical role of an expectant father in America is to both support his partner throughout her pregnancy, and to prepare for the arrival of the coming baby. Although women’s bodies and emotions are undergoing most of the changes, the father goes through changes of his own to prepare for the baby. He carries countless different burdens and stresses that are often overshadowed by the mother’s pregnancy. Some of these include: focusing on how to afford the pregnancy, juggling his work and family, and und... ... middle of paper ... ...so this is completely understandable. A way to combat a father’s fear and anxiety of the birthing process is through education. A study was done in antenatal centers in Sweden where 762 men were sampled and asked if they had an antenatal fear of childbirth (Bergstrom, Rudman, Waldenstrom, & Kieler, 2013). Of these men, 86 admitted to having these fears. 39 were randomly selected to go through a psychoprophylaxis childbirth preparation class. By the end of the study, the men who had taken the class rated childbirth as less frightening than those who had not taken it (Bergstrom et al., 2013). This supports the belief that the more educated a man is about childbirth, the more helpful and participative he can be during the birthing process. Under the right circumstances, it is possible (and maybe even preferable) for a man to be included in the birth and labor process.
Being a father is one of the greatest things a man can do. Not every man has what it takes to be a father. God has only granted certain men with this very important job. In a perfect world a man becomes a father when his wife gives birth to a child, but in today's society it is not necessarily a MAN's wife that may give birth to his child but a girlfriend. No matter how it happens it all starts out the same way. A man and a woman have sex and then if her egg is fertilized by the man's sperm she becomes impregnated. Taking into account that there are no problems with her pregnancy a woman will have a baby in roughly nine months. The woman becomes a mother and the man becomes a father, this does not mean that he necessarily knows what to do but over time he will acquire the knowledge it takes to be a father. God designed for men to become fathers not at an early age but at a later age so they would be knowledgeable and mature enough to be a father.
In “Fatherhood Movement” by Kathy Koch, an assistant managing editor of CQ Researcher, voices that 17 million American children do not live with a father or a male figure (Koch 475). She speculates whether having fathers involved in their children’s lives is essential and if so what can society do to help. Koch uses facts, professional opinions, and unique stories to discuss the significance of a father in a child`s life. All encourage fathers to spend time with their children.
It is important to understand what women commonly experience during pregnancy. With a better understanding of what happens during prenatal development and childbirth, physicians can competently develop the best plan for the mother and baby. I interviewed two women who have been previously pregnant in order to evaluate how the ideas in the book translate into real-life experiences.
Although single parenthood is on the rise in homes today, children still often have a father role in their life. It does not matter who the part is filled by: a father, uncle, older brother, grandfather, etc...; in almost all cases, those relationships between the father (figure) and child have lasting impacts on the youth the rest of their lives. In “I Wanted to Share My Father’s World,” Jimmy Carter tells the audience no matter the situation with a father, hold onto every moment.
Livingston, Gretchen. The Rise of Single Fathers. 2 July 2013. Web. 11 March 2014 .
Both birth and the postpartum period involve a certain degree of danger for the birthing mother, her nascent child, and her entire family or community. Because childbirth is so dangerous (the average lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy related causes is about one in fifteen in some poor countries, MacCormack 1), most cultures have distinct patterns that determine how the birthing process will be carried out. The birthing process involves different birthing positions; different rules concerning who is allowed to be present during the time of birth; mechanisms for deciding where birth takes place; and different ways by which mother and child deal with labor, birth and postpartum. "As a life crisis event, birth is everywhere a candidate for consensual shaping and social regulation the particular pattern depending on local history, ecology, social structure, technological development, and the like" (Jordan 4). By exploring the original human condition of childbirth one is able to gain insight into the universal biosocial phenomenon known as the birthing process.
Evidence clearly shows a decline in fatherhood within American homes. The results are disparaging, but there is a silver-lining. Initiatives have been launched across the country, dating back to the 1990’s. There is an increasing collection of courageous men determined to debunk the post-modern stereotype of bungling, or worse, absent fatherhood. Typing in fatherhood within a Google search engine generates a sizeable list of websites geared towards equipping and empowering dads. And the lifelong occupation is not as daunting as one may think—in fact fatherhood is one of the most rewarding and self-actualizing jobs a man will ever endeavor to take on.
Social and instrumental support provided by the father to the mother and child, as well as health literacy, are important mediators of the association between education and health outcomes (Shapiro). Paternal involvement may promote healthy prenatal behaviors. Paternal involvement reduces stress, a conceivable cause of antagonistic pregnancy outcomes (Alio). Fathers have an imperative role to play in pregnancy and childbirth, where they provide psychological, material and financial support to the mother during the prenatal period and beyond. There is a steady association between paternal involvement and positive health-seeking behaviors in pregnancy, such as accessing prenatal care in the first trimester and reduced tobacco and liquor consumption. In addition, there will be more supervision of the pregnant mothers by the fathers with more education. There is an association between paternal involvement in pregnancy and optimum outcomes related to clinic utilization and increased adherence to treatment services (Alio, Mbah). Engaged and committed fathers play a vital role in the positive growth and development of strong children, families, and communities (Perry). Support during pregnancy influences preterm birth risk and possibly ameliorates the effects of chronic stress, life event stress, or pregnancy anxiety in pregnant women. Support from baby’s father is the most critical source of support with regards to
Giphart, S. M., & Cholette, M. (2011). Living Through the Unexpected: Two Fathers Share Their Experience with Postpartum Hemorrhage. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 26(4), 49-52.
There are many different areas to consider when preparing for and having a newborn. Whether the pregnancy was planned or unplanned or the couple is married or not, a newborn baby brings new responsibilities. Having a baby also forces people to make adjustments both financially and within the family. Parents also express concerns and expectations when having a newborn comma especially when it is their first; including what roles each parent and family member should play, how much confidence they have in their parenting skills, and how much financial strain would be placed on the family once the newborn has arrived. The newest issue in today’s society is the fact that many women are delaying childbirth and having more children in their later years of life.
Men have the same rights and obligations, as a child’s birth mother, to spend quality time, bond with, and care for a new baby. With some families living isolated from close relatives, it may be difficult for the mother’s family to support her after the birth of the child. “A study released in January found that fathers who took two or more weeks of leave upon their child's birth are more likely to be involved in the direct care of their children beyond leave” (Gringleburg). The time proceeding childbirth is the most stressful and tedious time. Parents have to adjust to the new baby and his or her schedule, especially the mother. With the both parents home, a lot of the stress is taken off the mother be...
A father is someone who protects, loves, supports and raises his children, whether they are biologically related or not. Every single person living on the Earth has a biological father. These biological fathers are supposed to take the responsibility of being a father because they did help bring a child into this world. One of the main responsibilities of a father is providing the child with the necessities of life, which include food, shelter, and clothes. Not only is a father responsible for the physical aspect but the emotional aspect as well. Children need to feel loved, cared for, and emotional support from their parents. A child needs to be reassured, so a father must show his affection, both physically and emotionally. A father needs to be involved in his children’s life. He needs to be a problem solver, playmate, provider, preparer, and he has to have principles. A father has to pr...
Mothers are the primary caretakers of the children. The fathers have had minimal care taking responsibilities. Many women, if they had a career before hand, have to give it up to stay at home with the child. Although, many fathers where the wives must work become important in the process of care taking because their role must increase to their children. Studies of human fathers and their infants confirm that many fathers can act sensitively with their infant (according to Parke & Sawin, 1980) and their infants form attachments to both their mothers and fathers at roughly the same age (according to Lamb, 1977).
Poster, E. (1984). Human Responses to Child Bearing. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 6(3), 99. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
Coming from a large family, birth and pregnancy were a very common events in my household, from a young age I evoke being curious about my mother’s pregnancies and as I got older and got a better understanding of the stages of birth and pregnancy I became captivated by my mother’s pregnancies and insisted that I attended as many antenatal appointments that I could. I also became very interested with the midwife that came to our house and provided my mother with all the support she needed and the job she done. I concluded that midwives play an important role throughout pregnancy, the labour, and the postnatal period, and also in a woman and her family’s lives, providing them with all the maintenance and assistance they can get. Eventually I