Duncan Fisher

The Daily Mail, along with various other national papers, reported last week on a new genre of confessional literature - by new fathers experiencing negative feelings after their baby was born: The fatherhood taboo.

One of the authors of the three books, is quoted as saying, “New mums are better at parenting than new dads, but there’s a reason why: they are programmed to mother.”

This resulted in an outpouring of comments in the following days, most characterised by generosity and common sense - 176 comments in total.  It is the best discussion on fatherhood on-line that I have ever seen.  Participation was 50/50 men and women.  About one quarter of respondents agreed with the statement and the rest disagreed - vehemently.

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Fatherhood birth, Fatherhood, maternity, parenting, postnatal depression

Tradition: the sacred mother-baby bond. Joseph is there in the dark, top right if you look very carefully!

Last week was Mind’s Mental Health Week and it focussed on men.  And this week I am speaking at the Primary Care 2009 conference on postnatal depression and fathers.  (I am told my audience will be about 1000 people!)  Here is my full presentation, which is summarised below (references at end of blog).

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Fatherhood birth, Fatherhood, maternity, postnatal depression