{"id":19552,"date":"2023-03-10T17:43:37","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T17:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/?p=19552"},"modified":"2024-09-27T17:10:59","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T16:10:59","slug":"becoming-a-new-father","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/becoming-a-new-father\/","title":{"rendered":"Becoming a new father &#8211; The transition to fatherhood"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #121c4e;color:#121c4e\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #121c4e;color:#121c4e\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/becoming-a-new-father\/#Key_takeaways_for_caregivers\" >Key takeaways for caregivers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/becoming-a-new-father\/#The_birth_of_a_child_is_the_birth_of_a_father\" >The birth of a child is the birth of a father<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/becoming-a-new-father\/#Hormonal_changes_in_new_fathers\" >Hormonal changes in new fathers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/becoming-a-new-father\/#Do_mens_brains_change_when_they_become_fathers\" >Do men\u2019s brains change when they become fathers?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/becoming-a-new-father\/#Play_helps_fathers_connect_with_their_babies\" >Play helps fathers connect with their babies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/becoming-a-new-father\/#Positive_parenting_in_fathers_starts_with_prenatal_care\" >Positive parenting in fathers starts with prenatal care<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/becoming-a-new-father\/#How_to_support_new_fathers_during_the_prenatal_period_and_after_the_birth\" >How to support new fathers during the prenatal period and after the birth<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_takeaways_for_caregivers\"><\/span><strong>Key takeaways for caregivers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The transition to fatherhood is accompanied by changes in fathers\u2019 brains and hormones. These changes are probably related to new activities and routines that fathers are involved in and develop.<\/li>\n<li>These brain-related and hormonal changes are functional: They support fathers\u2019 sensitive responses to their infants\u2019 needs.<\/li>\n<li>A new study using ultrasound imaging and feedback during pregnancy indicates that positive father-child interactions can get a head start before birth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_birth_of_a_child_is_the_birth_of_a_father\"><\/span><strong>The birth of a child is the birth of a father<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The birth of the first child marks the transition to fatherhood in men\u2019s lives. This is a developmental milestone, a new phase in adult life with unfamiliar tasks and responsibilities. The transition is more striking for most men who become fathers now than it was for their fathers and grandfathers.<\/p>\n<p>Today, fathers in Western, industrialized countries are much more actively involved in child care than fathers were: <a href=\"https:\/\/srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/cdep.12347\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a three- to six-fold increase in time over what their own fathers typically did<\/a>. How are men prepared for the life-changing event of becoming a father?<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hormonal_changes_in_new_fathers\"><\/span><strong>Hormonal changes in new fathers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The changes in hormonal levels in women who go through pregnancy and give birth are unparalleled. These are necessary for housing and feeding a new human being. In the transition to fatherhood, men also undergo hormonal changes, although they are not as significant as those women experience.<\/p>\n<p>From around four weeks before the birth of their first child to around five weeks after birth, men\u2019s testosterone, vasopressin, and cortisol levels decrease, and their oxytocin levels <a href=\"https:\/\/royalsocietypublishing.org\/doi\/10.1098\/rstb.2021.0060\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slightly increase<\/a>. These hormones are involved in many activities.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19550\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19550\" class=\"wp-image-19550 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tim-mossholder-MIhOdY-2Fmw-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tim-mossholder-MIhOdY-2Fmw-unsplash.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tim-mossholder-MIhOdY-2Fmw-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tim-mossholder-MIhOdY-2Fmw-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tim-mossholder-MIhOdY-2Fmw-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tim-mossholder-MIhOdY-2Fmw-unsplash-356x237.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tim-mossholder-MIhOdY-2Fmw-unsplash-700x467.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tim-mossholder-MIhOdY-2Fmw-unsplash-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19550\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/MIhOdY-2Fmw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Tim Mossholder<\/a>. Unsplash.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Testosterone is relevant when we are daring and competitive, vasopressin makes us alert, cortisol helps us respond to unexpected situations and is high when we are under stress, and oxytocin is well known as the love hormone but has more functions: It helps us recognize social signals, such as others\u2019 emotions. These <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/expectant-fathers-child-development-prenatally\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hormonal changes in fathers can be considered as functional<\/a> for gentle interaction with and sensitive care for the baby.<\/p>\n<h3>The perinatal period<\/h3>\n<p>But it could also be the other way around: In the perinatal period, the new activities and routines of fathers may lead to changes in their hormone levels, which in turn support sensitive parenting.<\/p>\n<p>For example, when fathers spend a few evenings a week on the couch cuddling with their baby rather than playing football, their cortisol levels probably decline and their oxytocin levels probably rise. This, in turn, may make them more patient when the baby protests during diaper changes. This idea of caregiving routines leading to change in hormonal levels is supported by new research on fathers\u2019 brains.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_mens_brains_change_when_they_become_fathers\"><\/span>Do men\u2019s brains change when they become fathers?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are (at least) three different ways to study human brains to measure change:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Brain structures<\/li>\n<li>Activity of brain areas<\/li>\n<li>Brain networks<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>1. Brain structures<\/h3>\n<p>The first is to look at brain structures, which can be seen as the hardware of the brain. Two studies found some change in fathers\u2019 brain structures in the first months after the birth of the baby (Kim at al., 2014; Mart\u00ednez-Garc\u00eda et al., 2022), but another study did not find such changes (Hoekzema et al., 2016).<\/p>\n<h3>2. Activity of brain areas<\/h3>\n<p>The second way to study brains is to look at the activity of brain areas in response to child-related stimuli. Much of this research focuses on the sounds of infants crying because that is such an intense and meaningful sound. In their first period of life, it is the only way babies can attract their parents\u2019 attention when they need something.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>The transition to fatherhood is accompanied by changes in behavior, hormones, and the brain.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Indeed, many brain regions are activated when we hear crying sounds. But having children does make a difference: Adults without children show more activity in brain regions involved with cognitive processing when they hear infants crying, while adults with children show more emotional processing (Witteman et al., 2019).<\/p>\n<h3>3. Brain networks<\/h3>\n<p>While this second type of brain research focuses on separate brain regions, the third type of brain research looks at brain networks. For example, the <em>parental brain network <\/em>is a system of <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/father-brain-biology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">regions that are supposed to collaboratively support caregiving behavior<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>New research shows no differences in this network between fathers during pregnancy and new fathers with a first-born baby of about 2 months, but a remarkable finding for fathers in the postnatal period emerged: The more fathers were involved in their children\u2019s care, the stronger the connectivity in their parental brain network (Horstman et al., 2021). In other words, it does not matter whether or not men have a baby, but it matters how much caretaking they do.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Play_helps_fathers_connect_with_their_babies\"><\/span><strong>Play helps fathers connect with their babies<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fathers and mothers are both similar and different in the ways they engage with their children. In general, mothers do the lion\u2019s share of caregiving, such as feeding and bathing. When it comes to play, fathers and mothers are more similar in the amount of time they play or read stories with their child. This implies that when fathers and infants interact, it is often in the context of play (Amodia-Bidakowska et al., 2020).<\/p>\n<p>Play is a perfect way for fathers to get to know their child, and to see what they like, what fears they may have, and how they overcome these fears with daddy\u2019s help. This is <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/secure-attachment-father-play\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">as rewarding for fathers as it is for children<\/a>, and it stimulates the attachment relationship (Monteiro et al., 2010).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Positive_parenting_in_fathers_starts_with_prenatal_care\"><\/span><strong>Positive parenting in fathers starts with prenatal care<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We stated earlier that the birth of a child is the birth of a father. Actually, being a parent starts before the birth of the child. <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/expectant-fathers-child-development-prenatally\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fathers are influential during pregnancy<\/a> <u>\u2013 <\/u>they affect prenatal development through their own health, and they influence expectant mothers\u2019 mental and physical health.<\/p>\n<p>New research also shows that unborn babies are ready to interact with their fathers. Using ultrasound, we recorded how babies between the 21<sup>st<\/sup> and 32<sup>nd<\/sup> week of pregnancy responded when their fathers softly massaged mothers\u2019 abdomen, read from a children\u2019s book, or sang for their child (De Waal et al., 2022).<\/p>\n<p>Babies can hear voices coming from outside the abdomen and can recognize their father\u2019s voice. They can remember rhythms and music during pregnancy and even after birth when they heard them regularly during pregnancy. As pregnancy progresses, the skin of mothers\u2019 abdomen thins, there is less amniotic fluid, and the babies\u2019 nervous system develops, enabling them to feel and respond to touch.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Fathers\u2019 caretaking of their baby may promote the hormonal and brain changes that support high-quality fathering.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In our research, we offered fathers three sessions with ultrasound-based interaction with their unborn baby. We saw on the screen how the babies responded when their <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/reading-with-dad\/\">fathers read to them from a children\u2019s book<\/a> or sang a lullaby. We used video-feedback reviewing of the ultrasound images to help them interpret their babies\u2019 states, responses to the interaction (e.g., thumb sucking when dad read), and own initiatives (e.g., pushing against the wall of mother\u2019s womb).<\/p>\n<p>Fathers who received such prenatal video feedback were more sensitive during play with their babies after birth (Buisman et al., 2022). The video feedback may have made these dads more attuned to their babies, and may have spurred them to habitually check their baby\u2019s face and other signals to adapt their own behavior or pace to the infant\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_support_new_fathers_during_the_prenatal_period_and_after_the_birth\"><\/span><strong>How to support new fathers during the prenatal period and after the birth<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fatherhood has many dimensions. The transition to fatherhood is accompanied by changes in behavior, hormones, and the brain. The intensity of these changes depends partly on sociocultural norms and expectations for fathers.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes fathers feel at a disadvantage: Prenatal and perinatal care is focused on mothers, and fathers can seem to be at some distance. While it would be a great opportunity for medical check-ups to extend the focus of ultrasounds to include possibilities for father-infant interaction, fathers can also create their own moments of togetherness at home, talking to their babies and softly massaging their babies through their partners\u2019 skin. Getting to know each other can start before birth.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19549\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19549\" class=\"wp-image-19549 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-amina-filkins-5427955.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-amina-filkins-5427955.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-amina-filkins-5427955-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-amina-filkins-5427955-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-amina-filkins-5427955-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-amina-filkins-5427955-356x237.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-amina-filkins-5427955-700x466.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-amina-filkins-5427955-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19549\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/romantic-man-kissing-tummy-of-pregnant-wife-in-park-5427955\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amina Filkins<\/a>. Pexels.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Societies with parental leave for fathers stimulate paternal involvement in early child care, giving fathers more opportunities to interact with their babies. In such contexts, changes in brains and hormonal levels will probably be more extensive than in contexts where fathers have few opportunities to be actively involved in child care. Paternal leave enables fathers to develop a relationship with their children from the beginning, which is just one of the arguments for paid paternal leave.<\/p>\n<p>In some families, opportunities for fathers to engage are limited by mothers\u2019 reluctance to trust fathers\u2019 caregiving capacities. Called gatekeeping, this occurs when mothers want to take complete care of the baby themselves. It may be good to realize that fathers can be excellent caregivers, just like mothers, and that fathers\u2019 caretaking of their baby may promote the hormonal and brain changes that support high-quality fathering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Babies are ready to meet their fathers, and fathers\u2019 hormones and brains are ready to adapt to this new phase of life. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":19551,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5770,5773],"tags":[46,35,1283,5744,5751,27],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19552"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/79"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19552"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21015,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19552\/revisions\/21015"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}