Short fiction: Becoming a mother – my love’s journey

They say you become a mother at birth. But that’s not what I saw. My sweetheart wept over a small, plastic test as I held her tightly in my arms. I kissed her strawberry-scented auburn hair and told her it would all be OK. She’d wanted this for as long as I could remember. We […]

How is Dad going? PND and fathers

“I just want to support her, she’s the mum.” “The little one’s doing well, that’s the main thing.” “You just have to get on with it.” “I work really hard, then I get home and there’s more work.” “I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t – whatever I do is not good […]

Perinatal depression and anxiety in men – when and how to seek help

Most people are surprised to know that around 1 in 20 men experience anxiety or depression during their partner’s pregnancy [1] and up to 1 in 10 new dads struggle with anxiety or depression following the birth of their baby [2]. Men from all walks of life and all cultures, even those who generally feel […]

Older and tireder – the price for older parenthood

A couple announces they are expecting a child. She’s thrilled. He’s worried. “I’ll be working till I’m 70,” he complains to his friend. It’s not that he doesn’t welcome this child. It’s just that he has two teenage children from a previous marriage and, well, he’s …tired. OK, I hear you say, if he has […]

4 ways to be an active father

I was genuinely surprised by what it meant to become a father. My ‘arrival’ into this lofty status was etched on the reassuring words of other dads — statements like ‘You’ll be right mate’ or ‘It’s the best thing ever’. So when I found out this wasn’t strictly true — at least for me — […]

A celebration of fatherhood – with a twist

Autism doesn’t announce itself in the delivery room. You can’t detect it from a blood test or any type of pre-natal screening. In fact, children with autism are typically born as healthy, bouncing babies with 10 fingers and 10 toes. Their parents take them home from the hospital and all is as it should be. A happy

7 ways to be a good dad

Parenting is not a job that most people take lightly. Fathers sometimes do it extra tough, as they are not always as available to their children as they would like to be.

7 things new dads need to emotionally prepare for parenthood

Becoming a dad brings with it a range of changes to your physical and emotional health. Helen McAllister, St John of God National Director Raphael Services, shares her advice on the essentials all dads need to know to keep their emotional wellbeing in check.