It takes time to settle into life with a new family member.
Take things at an easy pace – the response to the premature birth and hospital admission can feel overwhelming, even while at home in familiar surroundings.
You and your partner might have different reactions, so pay attention to what works for you and your family.
Finding new balances between family life, work and leisure can be tricky, so work out what energises you, and remember to look after yourself too.
The early days at home
Everyday life at home places new challenges on new dads.
In the hospital, your child was kept under close watch with blood tests and regular weigh-ins, but now it’s time to ease off the control and focus on understanding your child’s cues.
Your child has matured and responds more clearly – it can almost feel like getting to know your child all over again.
Your child is spending more time awake, and crying is a normal part of how they communicate.
Skin-to-skin contact remains a way to strengthen your connection, and using a stretchy wrap can offer your child warmth and your body’s circadian rhythm, promoting their balance and security.
Being a family
As a dad, you still play a crucial role in your child’s happiness and development.
Spending time together helps you understand your child better and recognise the ways they communicate, strengthening your connection.
Feel free to reach out to your network for help with practical tasks – it frees up more time for you to be together as a family.
Tips
Keeping in touch with other dads or parent couples from the neonatal unit can be reassuring for some.
Other parents can be incredibly supportive, as they have often faced many of the same challenges and emotions as you.
Sharing experiences, thoughts and tips with people who understand your situation can help you feel less isolated and provide fresh perspectives on what it’s like to be the father of a premature child.
Consider setting up physical or online meet-ups after you leave the hospital to support each other through the transition back to everyday life at home.
Also listen to
Link to the podcast episode: Family life after leaving the hospital
The texts for ‘Dads of premature babies’
were created collaboratively by first-time dads of premature babies, doctors, nurses from neonatal units, public health nurses, and the Child, Maternal and Family Health Care research group in The SUPPORTED study project, which aims to foster a more father-inclusive culture in a family-centred context within the healthcare system.
