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Tune in to listen to Dr Chris May exploring the important role that dads play during pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting.
PRESENTER BACKGROUND
Chris May has a long standing interest in fathering and parenting partnerships. He moved into academia following a career in paediatric nursing and currently works with the Fathers and Families Research Team, as a manager for the SMS4dads project. He has also designed and facilitated paternal antenatal classes for over 15 years. Chris’s PhD explored the importance of parenting partnership quality in families where there is a child on the autism spectrum. His current research is focused on the facilitation of partner (dads’) support, the assessment of co-parenting quality and the use of communication technologies such as SMS text messages to provide a supportive intervention to new dads.
What does partner support look like?
How did dads get this job?
How do they go about it?
What influence does a dads support during pregnancy, childbirth & early parenting have on the outcomes for the family.
Dr Chris May interviews Dr Dan Golly about his experience of having a dad, being a dad and working with dads. Dr Golly is a Melbourne-based paediatrician who specialises in sleep, settling and fathering.
Tune in as Dr Golly shares about the importance of being present as a dad – both physically and emotionally – and the gifts you get back when you fully participate as an involved, hands-on dad.
And why you should not simply accept an unsettled baby who is not sleeping through by six weeks. There are things that can be done – and a tonne of benefits for dads, bubs and mum!
GUEST BACKGROUND
Dr Daniel Golshevsky (Dr Golly) is a Melbourne-based paediatrician and father of three.
With a growing social and media presence, he is a proud Red Nose Australia Ambassador & perinatal mental health champion for PANDA.
As a general paediatrician, he cares for babies, children and teenagers of all ages, managing physical, mental and behavioural development as well as illness and emergency.
Over the last decade, Dr Golly has sub-specialised in unsettled babies and poor sleep. His philosophy is centred around empowering parents, protecting mothers and the heavy involvement of dads and non breastfeeding partners. His online Sleep and Settling Programs have quickly become the essential guide for thousands of families across the globe.
Dr Golly hosts a weekly Listnr Podcast – Dr Golly & The Experts – interviewing parents who have had to navigate significant challenges in their parenting journey.
His NEW Book ‘Your Baby Doesn’t Come with a Book‘ is Dr Golly‘s Guide to the first four weeks of parenthood. Published by Hardie Grant, it’s on shelves 20th September 2023 and available for pre-order now!
For more information, see his website drgolly.com and follow him on socials @drgolly.
PRESENTER BACKGROUND
Chris May has a long standing interest in fathering and parenting partnerships. He moved into academia following a career in paediatric nursing and currently works with the Fathers and Families Research Team, as a manager for the SMS4dads project. He has also designed and facilitated paternal antenatal classes for over 15 years. Chris’s PhD explored the importance of parenting partnership quality in families where there is a child on the autism spectrum. His current research is focused on the facilitation of partner (dads’) support, the assessment of co-parenting quality and the use of communication technologies such as SMS text messages to provide a supportive intervention to new dads.
Influences on fathering
The importance of ‘present fathering’
Getting physical – the benefits of hands-on dad-ing
Support for parents with an unsettled baby who is not sleeping through the night by 6 weeks
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.