Alyssa R. Morris

There is a lack of focus on psychological support for fathers in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), both in research and practice, with fathers receiving far less support from NICU providers as compared with mothers. This article aims to discuss the current literature and limitations related to providing psychological support to fathers in the NICU and proposes short- and long-term efforts for improving psychological care for NICU fathers. We conducted a narrative literature review to summarize interventions for supporting fathers in the NICU, including emotional support, educational support, social support, family-integrated care, and multi-component interventions. While initial work is promising, there are major limitations. Very few studies have examined interventions specific to providing support to fathers in the NICU, and little work has investigated differences in the support needs and responses to interventions for NICU fathers as compared with mothers. Fathers have historically been overlooked in the NICU. Given the growing recognition of paternal mental health challenges and their impact on infant development, there is a pressing need for efforts aimed at supporting fathers in the NICU. Efforts must consider system structure, policy, multidisciplinary training, and implementation protocols to improve the quality of care provided to NICU fathers.

This longitudinal study compared infant temperament rated at 3 months postpartum by 263 United‐States‐based women who gave birth during the COVID‐19 pandemic and 72 who gave birth prior to the pandemic. All women completed questionnaires assessing perinatal mental health, social contact, and infant temperament. Mothers whose infants were born during the pandemic reported higher levels of infant negative affectivity as compared with mothers whose infants were born earlier (F(1, 324) = 18.28, p < .001), but did not differ in their ratings of surgency or effortful control. Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms, prenatal stress, and postpartum stress mediated differences in infant negative affectivity between pandemic and pre‐pandemic groups. Within the pandemic group, decreased postpartum social contact was associated with higher ratings of infant negative affectivity. These findings suggest that the pandemic has affected maternal perceptions of infant temperament, perinatal mental health, and social contact.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individuals across the world, and in particular, dramatically affected the experience of pregnancy and childbirth for many expectant mothers. The transition to parenthood is a time of increased risk for mental health problems, and maternal prenatal stress is associated with long-term maternal and infant health implications. The current study explored whether COVID-19 related changes to mothers' childbirth plans and prenatal health care experiences during the first wave of pandemic lockdowns in the U.S. were associated with self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress. In spring 2020; we surveyed 641 pregnant women on their pregnancy and birth plans, as well as their mental health, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women anticipating changes to the presence of their partner at birth also reported heightened symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, women who anticipated changes to the timing of delivery reported both higher anxiety and higher perceived stress. These findings extend initial work suggesting increased risk for mental health problems in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic by highlighting specific pandemic-related disruptions to pregnancy and birth that may have contributed to prenatal distress. Monitoring and intervention for these mothers and their infants are warranted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Extensive research has established that fathers’ engagement in parenting benefits children, but few studies have described how fathers contribute to child development even before birth. In this article, we consider both direct and indirect pathways through which expectant fathers shape child development during the prenatal period. Regarding direct pathways, we review work on expectant fathers’ contributions to child development through genetic and epigenetic processes, as well as neuroendocrine mechanisms. Regarding indirect pathways, we outline ways in which expectant fathers indirectly influence child development through the couple relationship. In so doing, we seek to provide a foundation from which to formulate future lines of inquiry on the role of expectant fathers in child development. This research can inform clinical interventions and policies geared toward improving the early caregiving environment and child development.