| DENVER, Colo., June 15, 2005--For veteran dads, Father's Day can be rewarding and relaxing. For dads-to-be (especially first-time fathers), the holiday can mark a time of anxiety and even stress.
"Many men feel emotionally unprepared for fatherhood," says Nadia Shamsuddin, director of program services of the March of Dimes Colorado chapter. "For obvious and important reasons, pregnant women receive much attention and support from family and friends. Expectant fathers need that too, although they don't always get it or ask for it."
The best way, Shamsuddin says, for men to feel more at ease with the arrival of a new baby is to get as actively involved as possible in the pregnancy. Tips from the March of Dimes include:
* View the pregnancy as something happening to both of you.
* Go with your partner to prenatal checkups when possible and ask questions of your healthcare provider.
* Learn about the birthing process.
* Make mutual decisions about the kind of labor and delivery support you want to have.
* Take some time off from work (if your job permits) upon the baby's arrival.
Dad can also play a key role in ensuring the best possible health for mom and baby by:
* Keeping stress at a minimum.
* Being patient and supportive, and communicating.
* Promoting a healthy lifestyle (including good nutrition and regular exercise, and excluding smoking, drinking and drug-taking).
The March of Dimes offers a free brochure, Men Have Babies Too, for anyone in Colorado interested in learning more. Copies are available by contacting the March of Dimes at (303) 692-0011 or e-mailing c0611@marchofdimes.com
The March of Dimes is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. To achieve its mission, the March of Dimes funds research, community services, education and advocacy. Currently in Colorado, the March of Dimes funds nearly $1.4 million in healthy-baby grants, plus operates its own education and resource initiatives. For more information, visit the March of Dimes at marchofdimes.com (English) and nacersano.org (Spanish).
For more information, contact:
Becky Herlinger
March of Dimes Colorado Chapter
(303) 692-0011
bherlinger@marchofdimes.com
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