{"id":10981,"date":"2021-06-15T13:49:19","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T12:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/path-perinatal.eu\/uk\/?post_type=professionals&p=10981"},"modified":"2021-10-22T13:16:44","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T12:16:44","slug":"the-transition-to-fatherhood","status":"publish","type":"professionals","link":"https:\/\/path-perinatal.eu\/uk\/professionals\/the-transition-to-fatherhood\/","title":{"rendered":"The transition to fatherhood"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When a couple discover they are going to become parents this can have a huge impact on their relationship. Healthcare professionals can do a lot to help couple prepare for these changes and take steps to \u2018baby proof\u2019 their relationship. OnePlusOne and The Couple Connection offer a range of courses and resources for professionals and parents to support new and expectant parents with parenthood – see links in the resources section below.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Research by Hirschberger (et all 2009) show that relationship satisfaction can decline after having a baby and dads experience a greater decline than women as the graph below indicates. Only 18-33% of couples report an improved relationship (Gottman et al, 2010; Cowan & Cowan, 1995; Belsky & Kelly, 1994) The rest experience relationship satisfaction decline which often never recovers (Doss et al, 2008; Lawrence et al, 2008) Twenge, 2003)<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Research by Hirschberger (et all 2009) show that relationship satisfaction can decline after having a baby and dads experience a greater decline than women<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Hirschberger, G., Srivastava, S., Marsh, P., Cowan, C., & Cowan, P. (2009). Attachment, marital satisfaction, and divorce during the first fifteen years of parenthood. Personal Relationships, 16(3), 401\u2013420.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Preparing couples for the changes that can occur in their relationship is helpful \u2013 ideally this is best done antenatally. It is good to get couples to think about how they think their relationship may affect their baby. Couples may have spent time thinking about or be anxious about how the baby will impact on their relationship but may not have considered this from the baby\u2019s perspective. It may help couples to know that 92% of couples argue more in the first year of becoming parents. It is an increased time of stress and vulnerability for them. Helping couples think about their conflict style is helpful. Please see the link in the resources section on resolving conflict.<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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OnePlusOne<\/strong> offer a range of digital courses for professionals as well as dads, expectant and new parents to manage stress and constructively. Please see the links below in the resources section. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Statistics regarding relationship stress after the birth of the first child include:<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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