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Even though in the hardest hit states restrictions are easing we do expect that restrictions on hospital attendance will be in place from time to time. And without being pessimistic, there will be many dads working from home, some from choice, some forced to, and some stood down. In-person contact with workplace colleagues, family and friends may be severely restricted or prohibited.
For fathers approaching the birth or at home with a new baby, lockdowns and COVID restrictions can change the way that they can support their partner through the pregnancy or care for their new infant.
Being at home with the new baby has given some fathers a chance to be more involved in their day-to-day care, see every aspect of their development and form a strong bond. 1, 2 However international research on the effects of lockdown have found that many fathers will be highly stressed due to financial and family pressures. 1, 3, 4 Being forced to be at home, especially with limitations on going out or meeting with others, has made fathering more stressful. 1, 5
An Australian study found that fathers’ high stress rates increased from 5% to 25% over the period of the COVID-19 lockdown. Fathers who had lost employment had significantly higher stress levels than men who had lost employment who had no children to support. 4
Lockdowns have changed the pressure and expectations on fathers. In the context of lockdown, mothers also have higher stress because of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 restrictions, testing and vaccinations.2, 5, 6 In this situation their primary support person, the father, becomes even more central to her well-being and ability to manage distress. 1, 6, 7, 8
For those dads approaching the birth of their first child, being excluded from antenatal visits has meant less connection to the pregnancy and the upcoming birth. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 Where hospitals, for safety reasons allow only one support person for mothers, fathers may also become the only family support person during and after the birth in situations where regulations for visiting and postnatal care may change overnight. 12
Fathers who in normal circumstances would return to work within two weeks of the birth, taking up their role as provider of financial and after-hours support, must instead juggle working from home with care for their partner and their new baby.
One avenue of support for expectant and new fathers is the SMS program developed at The University of Newcastle which delivers brief text messages to fathers’ mobile phones from 12 weeks into the pregnancy until the baby is a year old (www.SMS4dads.com).
The SMS4dads program has recently been tested with over 5,000 NSW fathers and from September 1 funding from the federal government is making it available to fathers across Australia.
The texts have been adapted for the pandemic conditions. The brief messages offer tips and information on father-infant bonding and ways to support their partner before and after the birth. Regular Mood Checker interactive texts help manage feelings and highly distressed fathers are linked to mental health support.
While the SMS4dads program cannot address factors such as financial strain, fathers have found it provides a channel of reliable information, connection and support. “Like a mate tapping you on the shoulder” as one participant described the messages.
Research suggests that fathers who are able to identify positive aspects of the change situation, for example enjoying seeing their baby develop day by day because they are not at work, are likely to have lower stress levels than those who can only find negative features of their change situation.15
The SMS4dads program will be adding messages to further enhance father infant bonding during the lockdown and an online SMS4dads antenatal program is being developed for fathers approaching the birth.
RICHARD FLETCHER Associate Professor Richard Fletcher is the principal investigator of the SMS4dads research project
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Richard’s research revealed possible long-term negative impacts on the children of dads with mental health issues. Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the first year after the birth predicted behaviour problems in their children years later.
“If dads’ mental health has such a dramatic impact then we need to be screening dads for depression, not just mums,” Richard explains.
In response to these limitations, Richard and his team have designed a smart-phone based program that allows mobile connection for new and expectant dads.
Participants receive texts containing information and links, and self-report their mood. If the mood tracker identifies dads as needing extra support, they will be offered a phone call from a counsellor trained in this area.
Following the success of the pilot of the SMS4dads program, Funding was received to enable a National roll-out.
“When dad’s miss antenatal classes or activities, they also miss out on contact and links to other people. They may never get the chance to say to anyone, look I’m really stressed,” he points out.
“SMS4dads is a way of bringing dads into the health system and keeping them linked in with services and support,” explains Richard.
Richard credits a varied career, a talented and innovative team, and much life experience for affording him the insight needed to address the challenges related to actively engaging dads.
After completing his masters in Medical Science, studying epidemiology, Richard earned his PhD focusing on fathers and attachment.
“Fathers are invisible in many places, and that is endemic. Not because people dislike fathers, but because the system is set up to be focused on mothers.”
Some services and organisations are aware of the need to engage dads, but have been unsuccessful in their attempts.
“When people are challenged about this, they generally want dads involved,” Richard affirms.
“Often, however, they just don’t know how to do it.”
Richard works with health professionals on issues related to fathers, and has delivered many antenatal programs for expectant dads.
He credits his own family with giving him an understanding of the role of fathers needed to make his work relevant.
“I have three daughters and two stepdaughters,”
“My kids would say they taught me just about everything I know and they’d be right. They’ve taught me a lot, and still do.”
Richard’s research revealed possible long-term negative impacts on the children of dads with mental health issues. Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the first year after the birth predicted behaviour problems in their children years later.
“If dads’ mental health has such a dramatic impact then we need to be screening dads for depression, not just mums,” Richard explains.
In response to these limitations, Richard and his team have designed a smart-phone based program that allows mobile connection for new and expectant dads.
Participants receive texts containing information and links, and self-report their mood. If the mood tracker identifies dads as needing extra support, they will be offered a phone call from a counsellor trained in this area.
Following the success of the pilot of the SMS4dads program, Funding was received to enable a National roll-out.
“When dad’s miss antenatal classes or activities, they also miss out on contact and links to other people. They may never get the chance to say to anyone, look I’m really stressed,” he points out.
“SMS4dads is a way of bringing dads into the health system and keeping them linked in with services and support,” explains Richard.