Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999

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What about Dad?

It takes two to make a baby… so where do Dads fit into the picture?

 

Becoming a Father

Nothing can quite prepare you for becoming a father as it is life-changing. It can often turn out to be a time of great challenge and extreme stress for both mum and dad.  This pressure along with a sense of struggling to navigate the unknown can sometimes become overwhelming. The health visiting service recognise that fathers are important too and are working on ways in which we can include them in the support we provide.

DadPad

The DadPad launched September 2021 and is available as a hard copy booklet or a downloadable app. It was created because babies don’t come with a set of instructions, and Dads deserve to have the important information on what to expect and how to care for their baby available to them. The creators listened to what dads, their partners and professionals asked for and combined it all in the DadPad for dads-to-be. The DadPad is for fathers who want to provide their child with the very best start in life. Whether you are about to become a dad for the first time or want to ensure that you can still cover all bases with a new addition to your family. The DadPad is best utilised as early as possible during pregnancy, around birth and beyond, and provides guidance for babies and children up to the age of two. It’s particularly useful to have during paternity leave. If you would like a hard copy you can ask your Health Visitor, or for a virtual copy please download the app.

Dadpad: About Us

Acacia Dads

Acacia is a mental health support service which was established in 2004 offering support to the family in the perinatal period. Recent research reveals that up to one in 10 dads will develop postnatal illnesses regardless of whether their partner develops it or not and this includes not just depression/anxiety but also other perinatal conditions like OCD traits and post-traumatic stress disorder relating to the birth. Remember, depression/anxiety and other mental health problems are not a sign of weakness any more than a physical health problem is. They are a treatable health condition and the sooner you get help, the sooner things will start to get better. If you live in Birmingham or Solihull, Acacia can offer you a range of support. They can provide a free support service for dads and partners who are affected by perinatal mental health problems in a wife/partner or for themselves. Ring 0121 301 5990 to access support or complete a self-referral form via the website. You can also search local support groups in your area via the website if you prefer group support.

Acacia: Self assessment/referral form

Other support services include:

ChatHealth Logo

South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust runs a confidential secure text messaging service for parents of children aged 0-5 years called ChatHealth. The service operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm, excluding bank holidays. All texts will be responded to by a health visitor within 24 hours. Outside of the service working hours, you’ll receive a message back to inform you that your text will be responded to once the service reopens.

Should you require urgent health advice in the meantime, please contact your GP, visit an NHS walk-in centre or call NHS 111. For emergencies, dial 999 or visit A&E.

This page was last reviewed on 29-06-2022

This page will be next reviewed on 29-06-2025