Fathers keep out!

Pract Midwife. 2013 Oct;16(9):35-7.

Abstract

When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had their baby, the new father was with his wife and baby until they left the hospital. No suggestion that he should be pushed out at this very sensitive time. Does this mean that to be given the opportunity to bond with his baby, a father must either be royal or rich? This article examines the policy of sending fathers away from their newly born baby and partner, especially when they are very young or vulnerable. The suggestion is that 24 hour visiting should apply to fathers, thus circumventing the problems with providing accommodation for them.

MeSH terms

  • Delivery Rooms*
  • Delivery, Obstetric / psychology*
  • Father-Child Relations*
  • Fathers
  • Female
  • Helping Behavior
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male
  • Parturition / psychology*
  • Paternal Behavior / psychology
  • Postpartum Period / psychology*
  • Pregnancy
  • United Kingdom