When you become a dad to a premature baby, your reality changes drastically.
The situation can be unpredictable and demands quick adjustment, making it hard to process your thoughts and emotions.
In the midst of all that equipment, staff and care for the mother, it can be easy to overlook your vital role as a father.
Did you know that…
- 6-7% of all dads experience the birth of a premature baby.
- 10% of all babies born full-term spend time in a hospital’s neonatal unit.
- Many families are separated after birth because the mother and child are treated in different parts of the hospital.
As a father, it’s more common to stay with the baby.
Pregnancy
serves as a preparation period where the child develops. It’s a process where you form ideas about the baby, your role as a dad and what it means to be a family.
When your child arrives prematurely, they are still developing, and your expectations about becoming a dad may not unfold as planned.
You play a vital role as a dad from the very start.
The birth
- You have an important role during and after the birth.
- The earlier the birth, the more healthcare staff and equipment will be present in the room.
- You might find that your baby doesn’t cry immediately after birth.
- You can expect your child to require support and treatment immediately after being born.
- You can expect your child to be attached to monitoring equipment during and after the birth
When your baby is moved to the new ward, you may feel torn between staying with the baby’s mother or going with your child to the neonatal unit.
Discuss how you’d like communication between the different departments to support you best as a family.
Reception in the neonatal unit
Shortly after birth, your baby will be admitted to the neonatal unit, where you will both meet many healthcare professionals.
Because your child was born early, they’ll typically need assistance with breathing, feeding and keeping their temperature stable.
This requires a lot of different equipment. Blood samples will also be taken from your baby.
As their dad, you play a crucial role in providing support and comfort to your child.
You and your partner might experience the birth differently, so it can be helpful to share your experiences and capture the early days in photos that you can talk about together.
Also listen to
Link to the podcast episode: The father’s role in a premature birth
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.
