In a message dated 4/26/98 4:04:20 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< There have been shy fathers, macho fathers, and indifferent (seemingly)
 fathers; but with very little encouragement most of the Dads I work with
 relish this experience. It is my personal belief that most men have
 feelings similar to women, they just need "permission" to show those
 feelings. We know that babies who experience the close physical contact of
 breastfeeding experience less abandonment and abuse at the hands of their
 mothers, so what about fathers? Wouldn't this hold true for them as well?
 Sorry to be so long winded, this is one of my favorite issues.
 Mary Anne B.
  >>

Mary Anne,
I have seen similar experiences with fathers and babies both professionally in
the NICU as well as in our home with my dear husband and our four children.
It is truly amazing to see a father no matter how macho or "clumsy" tenderly
holding his tiny baby against his bare chest. The response from the baby is
just as dramatic. I have found that for dads that are encouraged to do skin to
skin regularly with their babes they are not only more involved in the direct
care of their infants, sick and/or premature or not, as well as far more
supportive and encouraging to mom as she breastfeeds.
I would tend to agree with your theory about a decrease in abuse and
abandonment but would be curious to see if anyone has any studies that may
back this up.
Laura S. RN †.....and soon to be an LC :)