“Involved fathers are pillars of strength in our families, embodying resilience, guidance, and unconditional love.”
~U.S. Senator Marco Rubio
The Dads Matter Act of 2024 is a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL). The legislation aims to improve maternal health outcomes by promoting fatherhood engagement. It directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to launch a public awareness campaign and provide guidance to states to encourage father involvement during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. It builds on previous efforts to address maternal mortality and improve family health.
NFI applauds the introduction of this bill because it could prove crucial to uplifting and affirming men during their transition into fatherhood.
To that end, the latest edition of National Fatherhood Initiative®’s (NFI’s) Father Facts™ highlights research around this “golden moment” that holds great potential for connecting fathers to their children for the long haul—for example, how masculine norms affect father involvement. Fathers who strictly adhere to traditional masculine norms (e.g., breadwinning, dominance, and control) can be less involved with their children’s instrumental and emotional care compared to fathers who adhere to new masculine ideals (e.g., care, warmth, and guidance), often having closer relationships with their children and romantic partners during pregnancy.
How to Help Men Preparing for Fatherhood
A core capability of NFI is translating research into practical tools and guidance for your work with dads. Here are three ways to help men prepare for fatherhood backed by research in Father Facts™:
- Help expectant and new dads understand the hormonal and neurological changes their bodies will or are going through. New fathers can experience a reduction in testosterone. This can happen just before and after the birth of their first child. The lower a man’s testosterone, the more likely he is to release key reward and bonding hormones, namely oxytocin and dopamine, when interacting with his child. Additionally, the brain also appears to undergo structural changes to ensure that fathers exhibit the key skills of parenting (e.g., emotional bonding, empathy, and the ability to interpret and react appropriately to a baby’s behavior).
- Affirm the role of expectant dads. When a father feels confident and capable in his parenting role (e., parental self-efficacy), it significantly influences his level of involvement with his children. This sense of agency can also serve as a key resilience factor, especially when fathers face challenges such as paternal depression. (Paternal depression decreases father involvement and reduces the quality of interactions with children).
- Recognize expectant and new dads’ contributions to promoting healthy maternal and child health outcomes. Strengthening the role of fathers in supporting healthy mothers and babies means highlighting the impact of father involvement during pregnancy. For instance, when fathers are actively involved prenatally, mothers often experience less stress and anxiety, which can contribute to a healthier pregnancy. Consider sharing NFI’s free infographics on how involved fathers benefit mothers during and after pregnancy and child well-being.
Helping men prepare for the “golden moment” is crucial for fostering strong, supportive family dynamics and ensuring the well-being of both parents and children. When men feel prepared during their transition into fatherhood, they are more likely to be active, engaged, and nurturing fathers.
What resonated with you about helping men during their transition into fatherhood?
Looking for more “golden moment” resources? Check out NFI’s New Dad's Pocket Guide and New & Expectant Dad Bundle.
