The advice has been developed in response to research that found fathers are often excluded from maternity care.
It argues that many mothers feel their partners receive little or no support, while midwives and health professionals can fail to recognise the benefits of paternal involvement in maternity care.
The guidance cites several best practice case studies, which NHS Trusts across the country are advised to learn from.
For example, the maternity unit at University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust offers antenatal classes on Sunday afternoons and evenings to fit around fathers’ working lives and to avoid football fixtures.
At the Royal United Hospital in Bath, a pilot project is allowing new fathers to stay overnight on the maternity ward to help support their partners and be involved with their new baby.
The guide also offers tips on preparing fathers to play a role in their partner's labour and raising awareness of postnatal depression and post-traumatic stress disorder – in fathers as well as mothers.
The guide states: "A few fathers, most of whom were vulnerable in some way before the birth, can experience psychological and sexual scarring after the experience of watching a partner give birth and there is little support for these fathers."
Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), which helped develop the guide, said a father’s role must not begin and end at conception.
"There is now substantial evidence of the benefits resulting from fathers being involved in their partner’s maternity care," she said. "Most women want their partners to be involved in their pregnancy."
The new guide, she claimed, "will increase awareness of the importance of fathers being engaged in their partner’s maternity care, as well as assist local maternity services and midwives to develop their own local practices and guidelines".
Public health minister Anne Milton added: "Fathers want to feel involved throughout their partner’s pregnancy and this guide is a step to making that happen. We’ve worked closely with the RCM on this to make sure midwives recognise their unique role so fathers feel welcomed and supported during this special time in their lives."
A link to the guide will follow shortly.
