Why Dad's Role In Pregnancy Is Important

Dads play a vital role in your baby’s wellbeing from the start, writes Karin Steyn

- Karin Steyn

IT’S NO SECRET that fathers in South Africa are largely absent and even if they are around, pregnancy may feel like a time that doesn’t really involve them as they don’t have a physical role to play. This couldn’t be further from the truth. If you are lucky enough to have a supportive partner, help him bond with your bump. It’s a vital process for your baby too. A father’s commitment to the relationship is most deeply affected by their ability to form a close bond early on with their children.

Emotional security and nurturing are crucial to you as a mother during pregnancy, and a loving relationship with an involved father is an endless source of emotional support to you. Fathers are able to waylay many of the fears you may experience during pregnancy, for example coming to terms with your changing identity and issues of whether you will still be regarded as sexually attractive.