--- title: Dad's Presence at Birth Leads to a Healthier Baby and Mom description: Read Christopher A. Brown's newest post on the importance of dad's presence for the health of baby and mom... image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/dads-absence-birth.png --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/dads-presence-healthier-baby-mom#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [NFI-Specific Programs & Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/nfi-specific-programs-resources) # Dad's Presence at Birth Leads to a Healthier Baby and Mom 2 min read ![Christopher A. Brown](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/chris_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=chris_circle_icon.png) [** Christopher A. Brown ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/christopher-a-brown) Chris serves as the President of National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), where he is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NFI's strategic plan and business model, as well as its operations and fundraising efforts. Dad's presence at the birth of his child increases the likelihood his child will be a healthy newborn. It also means mom is likely to be healthier. ![dads-absence-birth.png](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/dads-absence-birth.png?width=452&name=dads-absence-birth.png "dads-absence-birth.png")On the other hand, when dad is absent, baby and mom are less likely to be healthy. A [research brief](http://www.childandfamilyresearch.org/content/uploads/CFRPBrief_B200914_DadAbsenceHealthOutcomes.pdf) from the Child & Family Research Partnership at the University of Texas at Austin sums up their research on a large sample of unmarried moms in Texas in this way: *For unmarried parents there may be a connection between child health and fathers’ birth attendance after all—albeit a very different connection from the one feared in the past. Newly collected data show that a father’s absence at this key event, though not directly harmful, may nonetheless be a harbinger of early health complications for the newborn. These findings indicate that dad’s attendance is more than a mere gesture of support and commitment—it’s a window into the health and wellbeing of mother and child, and an opportunity for health policies that might anticipate and counteract adverse health outcomes for newborns. * Specifically, the children of absent dads are more likely to have a range of health complications and low birth weight. And moms are more likely to have had complications during pregnancy. It's not surprising, then, that these absent dads are less likely to have been involved during the pregnancy. These absent dads are less likely to have: - Helped moms with household chores. - Attended prenatal visits. - Attended moms' ultrasounds. - Provided financial support. **Indeed, the differences in involvement between dads absent at birth and present at birth are astounding. **Eighty-four percent (84%) of dads present at birth attended prenatal visits, for example, versus only 21 % of dads absent at birth.  The link between dads' involvement during the pregnancy and healthy outcomes for moms and babies isn't confined to the Lone Star State. National Fatherhood Initiative's [Father Facts](https://store.fatherhood.org/father-facts/) includes a number of studies on this link.  **How can you and your organization use this knowledge and leverage NFI's resources? Here are just a few ways.** - Share this information with dads and moms from the moment you learn they want to have children or a pregnancy is confirmed. - Before baby is born, provide dads with training on how to be a great dad. NFI's [24:7 Dad®](https://store.fatherhood.org/24-7-dad-programs) programs are excellent tools to use. - Before baby is born, provide moms with training on the importance of encouraging dad's involvement and how to become a gateway to his involvement rather than a gatekeeper. NFI's [Understanding Dad™](https://store.fatherhood.org/understanding-dad-an-awareness-program-for-moms/) program is an excellent tool to use. - Before and right after baby is born, give moms and dads print and electronic resources (e.g. brochures, tip cards, and guides) on topics vital to raising healthy children, such as on [child development](https://store.fatherhood.org/child-development/) and [co-parenting](https://store.fatherhood.org/co-parenting/).  And don't forget one of NFI's newest, hottest resources: [The Importance of an Involved Father](https://store.fatherhood.org/brochure-the-importance-of-an-involved-father/) brochure. There's not a faster, easier way to tell dads and moms about the need for dad's involvement. **What are you doing to engage dads and moms before and right after birth?** **Do you provide resources and training for dads and moms to ensure they create the best environment in which to raise a newborn?** Date Published: 07/07/2016 Last Updated: 03/31/2026 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/why-core-values) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/5-factors-predict-lack-of-dads-involvement) ## Related Articles ### [Five Leadership Practices That Build Father-Inclusive Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. Creating a father-inclusive organization doesn't happen through a new but isolated fatherhood program, staff training on how to include fathers, or ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/five-leadership-practices-that-build-father-inclusive-organizations) ### [Beyond Graduation: Keeping Fathers Connected Image created with GPT Image 2. Many organizations do a good job recruiting fathers and helping them complete a fatherhood program. But what happens after the program ends? How do ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/beyond-graduation-keeping-fathers-connected) ### [Funding A Father-Inclusive Effort For Non-Governmental Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) struggle to identify funding sources for fatherhood initiatives and programs. After all, beyond the ... 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