Fathers who hold baby at birth ‘more involved in care’
FATHERS who do this simple thing with their newborn at the birth are likely to be better dads in the long run.
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FATHERS who bond with their newborns at the birth are likely to be more involved in the care of the baby.
A first of its kind study has revealed the benefits of dads being present when bub arrives and holding it close.
While much attention has been focused on what happens to mothers hormonally during pregnancy and after, little is known about how the birth of a baby impacts the biology of the father.
“What we see in the special days around birth is that dads’ hormones — how much dads are producing overall and how their hormones quickly change when they hold their newborns — are linked to what fathers are doing months later. This relates to how men establish bonds with their newborns as well as with their partners and how they will co-parent,” University of Notre Dame Assistant Professor of Anthropology Lee Gettler said.
The study findings have just been released in the journal Hormones and Behavior.
The testosterone and cortisol levels in almost 300 dads were analysed for two days after the birth. Those that had elevated cortisol during either skin to skin or clothed cuddles were more likely to be involved with indirect care and play with their infants in the first months of their lives.
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Cortisol is sometimes referred to as the “stress hormone,” but this study shows that elevated cortisol is not always harmful.
“We tend to think of cortisol as a ‘bad’ hormone, but babies do require a lot of care and you do need to be vigilant. We think that elevated cortisol is a sort of orienting response that can help the body prepare for child care,” lead author Patty Kuo said.
He might be a burly excavator driver but Beau Rohweder is a big softie when it comes to his new “little princess” Elsie.
The Sunshine Coast new dad enjoyed every moment of his skin to skin bonding with his first child straight after her arrival.
“She is only a week old and she is on my chest all the time. It is very special and I would highly recommend it,” the 24 year old said.
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