One study suggests that men should receive as much emotional support as women in the run-up to parenthood.
More attention should be paid to fathers-to-be during prenatal and other clinical appointments to prevent them from feeling “left out”, according to a review of evidence.
Many new parents reported being “physically and emotionally tested to the breaking point,” experiencing bouts of exhaustion and symptoms of postpartum depression.
But they felt unable to ask for help because they weren’t supposed to be the ones finding new parenthood difficult.
The academics called for clinical guidelines to be developed to provide mental health support before and shortly after becoming parents.
They suggest that this would help them cope with the physical, psychological and social changes in their lives during the transition to parenthood.
The researchers drew on the results of surveys, interviews and focus groups from the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, involving more than 1,000 men.
Some had a positive experience with no mental health repercussions, but found that most faced challenges that had a detrimental impact on their mental health and overall well-being.
Experts have called for clinical guidelines to be developed to provide mental health support to men in the period before becoming fathers.
Parents said they “often felt ill-prepared for the exhaustion and new responsibilities” brought on by the arrival of a new baby, which left little time for intimacy and quality time with their partners and that this “strained the relationship”.
They often felt excluded from the mother-child relationship, beginning during pregnancy when they “felt like spectators,” which undermined their confidence in their ability to parent.
Other issues included insufficient personalized information or prenatal classes addressing their needs during the transition to parenthood, as this was “not considered important,” according to findings published in the BMJ.
In almost half of the studies, fathers particularly felt that they needed to be better informed about parenting in general, but especially about breastfeeding issues, to better support their partners.
The research team, from the University of Newcastle, say clinical guidelines should be developed for the support and management of paternal perinatal mental health.
They suggest that doctors, midwives and other healthcare staff should also ensure that adequate time is allocated to recognize parents’ well-being during perinatal appointments.
They conclude: “Address fathers’ well-being concerns and challenges during the transition to fatherhood by developing clinical guidelines on paternal perinatal mental health management, as well as effective engagement of professionals/organizations and inclusion of parents, can help eliminate the stigma. and gender expectations that society still follows.
They add: ‘It is clear that fathers need the same emotional and practical support as mothers during this period and it is therefore important that personalized support is provided in the future and that fathers are not considered a “forgotten entity.”
An NHS spokesperson said dads-to-be take part in care before birth, as long as their partner gives consent.
She said: “Partners of pregnant women and new mothers who suffer from anxiety, depression or more serious disorders such as psychosis are automatically offered a comprehensive mental health assessment and are told they need professional support if necessary.”
