This is a step towards greater inclusiveness. The city of Montreuil, and for the first time in France, has decided to offer completely free prenatal interviews for future fathers or co-parents, to take stock with them of the tsunami that will arrive in their lives.
Health checks for fathers before the baby arrives
This system, which has been in place for a year now, has three clear objectives:
- Take stock of the father’s health status before the birth or arrival of the child in the case of adoption
- Ensure the health of the unborn child
- Offer the future father an appointment entirely dedicated to him to answer his intimate questions and queries on the topic
These appointments, carried out by the general practitioner, concern all future fathers or co-parents, whether married, separated, adoptive, and take place from the moment the pregnancy is declared until the child is two months old. During these appointments they will be able to benefit from a blood test and, above all, talk about their emotions.
Daouda, the future father, expressed his feelings regarding these two sessions in the columns of the local city newspaper, The Montreuillois :
It is rare to be able to express yourself and discuss this at length with a health professional. […] It is valuable to be able to anticipate difficulties that may surround the arrival of a baby. I realized that I wasn’t the only father who felt what I felt and reacted that way, and that it wasn’t necessarily inevitable.
Daouda for Le Montreuillois
A step forward to help during postpartum
Although these tests may raise questions, since they do not concern pregnant women, but the fathers of the unborn child, they are nevertheless necessary for better involvement of co-parents. Knowledge is power, and ensuring fathers are involved and prepared even before birth can help them better anticipate their future roles. A father or co-parent who knows what awaits him and what awaits the future mother means better involvement during childbirth and especially in the postpartum period. Everyone will emerge victorious: the parents and the child.
When will this practice be generalized on a national scale?
Do you like our articles? You’ll love our podcasts. All our series, urgently listen to here.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
