Maternity care must involve fathers more

A new campaign has been launched to increase the involvement of fathers in maternity care, including a guide to help midwives and health professionals to facilitate this participation.

In conjunction with the Department of Health, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Fatherhood Institute, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has produced a leaflet entitled ‘Reaching Out: Involving Fathers in Maternity Care’.

Launched today by the public health minister Anne Milton, the campaign seeks to improve maternity care organisation to include fathers and raise awareness and recognition of the benefits of effective paternal involvement.

This includes using the guide in NHS trusts, and pilots such as partners staying overnight to help support the mother.

Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “A father’s role should not begin and end at conception. There is now substantial evidence of the benefits resulting from fathers being involved in their partner’s maternity care.

“Most women want their partners to be involved in their pregnancy. NHS policy is to increase engagement with fathers and encourage them to be involved in their partner’s maternity care in order to foster positive parenting and family relationships.  Midwives play a vital role in engaging with men during antenatal care, labour and birth and the postnatal period.”

Milton said: “Becoming a parent is hugely exciting but it can be a challenging time.  Fathers want to feel involved throughout their partner’s pregnancy and this guide is a step to making that happen.

“We’ve worked closely with the RCM on this to make sure midwives recognise their unique role so fathers feel welcomed and supported during this special time in their lives.”