When fathers can take individual days of parental leave during the first months after a birth, mothers visit health clinics less often and use less prescription medication
Studies are now emerging that show just how important a father’s presence is after the birth of their baby. In fact, only 14% of mothers have had to schedule inpatient or outpatient visits postpartum if the father was there to provide extra support. The amount of fathers taking ten or more days off after the birth of their child has gone up about 50%, and researchers claim that this is promising for both the mother and child in terms of physical and mental health.
Key Takeaways:
- There has been a 50% increase in the number of fathers that take ten days off or more after the birth of their child.
- When fathers take the recommended amount of time off, mothers are 14% less likely to need outpatient or inpatient care.
- Research showed that having grandparents close-by actually did not impact how much time fathers needed to take off.
“Research on parental leave in Sweden shows that when fathers take just a few extra days off during the first months of a child’s life, mothers’ health benefits significantly.”