ROLE OF A FATHER IN THE JOURNEY OF PREGNANCY & AFTER- By Dr Priyanka Sharma Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Forti

“love relationship” between the couple - the mother and the father or male partner during pregnancy is a pivotal in terms of male involvement in the pregnancy. While many women mentioned this as the ideal or preferred situation, male participants, also emphasized their relationship to the mother would determine the level of their involvement during the pregnancy process. The emotional connection (or lack thereof) can heavily influence the level of involvement by the father as well as the mental well-being of the mother both during and after pregnancy. The primary benefits of having a father or male partner involved during pregnancy were the reduction of maternal stress levels and the encouragement of positive maternal behaviours. Of the great importance is the training of health care providers to stress the need to encourage and welcome fathers in the prenatal process, as they are in a key position to be influential to the mother’s health behaviour . However males must first be educated about specific expectations of a father, the importance of his role to healthy child development and how he can best support the mother to improve pregnancy outcomes . Information on biological changes in the mother and issues surrounding risk factors for infant mortality should be integral components of any proposed educational curriculum. Paternal involvement is as crucial prenatally as it has been shown to be postnatally for infants. 

Fathers are to be accessible and engaged during the pregnancy and begin to demonstrate responsibility towards the coming child by helping the mother. Because all of the involvement is through the mother carrying the child, the relationship between the two parents is of utmost importance and determines the level of involvement. 

Instruments to assess father involvement during pregnancy should include a measure of parental relationship, just as interventions to increase fathers’ involvement must plan for addressing relational factors between parents regardless of their marital status. There are many studies supporting the role of father in reducing pregnancy  related complication and postpartum well-being of the mother. Powell and Karraker ,emphasized that women feel more adequate postpartum period and higher relationship satisfaction when they sense a supportive spouse during pregnancy. Contrary, lacking support of the spouse during pregnancy has a negative association with the emotional well-being of wives, resulting in an increased risk of negative pregnancy outcomes and postpartum period . Similarly, Bhuiya and Chowdhury , highlighted the lower chances of survival for children of divorced mothers compared to non-divorced mothers. Suresh and Balram , stressed the significance of educating and empowering males regarding pregnancy complications to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Spouses who have knowledge about complications during pregnancy and childbirth are more likely to actively support their wives in seeking antenatal care, opting for institutional deliveries, and receiving postnatal assistance. Their understanding of these complications plays a crucial role in promoting birth preparedness  Additionally, Yargawa and Leonardi-Bee, found that male involvement in pregnancy-related outcomes leads to a lower risk of postpartum depression and improved utilization of maternal health services. Women with supportive partners are more likely to receive skilled birth attendance and proper postnatal care. Mannion et al., emphasized the significance of partner support in enhancing breastfeeding confidence and sustainability. Partner support, including vocal motivation and active participation in breastfeeding practices, plays a crucial role in empowering mothers in their breastfeeding journey. Furthermore, Mohammed et al., emphasized the need for interventions that focus on enhancing partner support to improve pregnancy-related outcomes, such as reducing prenatal stress, depression, and smoking among pregnant women. Interventions targeting partner support can have a positive impact on pregnancy outcomes and contribute to better overall maternal and infant health. Overall, the literature suggests that partner support plays a crucial role in promoting maternal well-being and positive pregnancy outcomes, highlighting the need for interventions to enhance partner involvement and support during pregnancy.