There from the start: Men and pregnancy

The author's clinical experience with fathers-to-be during pregnancy has highlighted the importance of paternal presence in family and clinical settings. This has motivated the steady development of his clinical practice towards whole-family care by reaching out to fathers and fathers-to-be.

This article summarises the clinical experience of a perinatal psychiatrist and clinical specialist in fathers' mental health, around men's lives during pregnancy. The article also presents commonly observed clinical patterns and makes suggestions for clinicians seeking to enhance the care of these men and their families.

Three key ideas gleaned from working with men in pregnancy are: occult perinatal mental health issues in men that have an impact on family wellbeing; seeking gender equity in co-parenting by acknowledging mothers' and fathers' '50-50' responsibility for the 'psychological birth' of a child; and strengths-based engagement of men as a men's health opportunity. Further resources are provided.