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Partners and fathers are enormously important when it comes to FASD.
The first role they play is avoiding alcohol when trying for a baby. New research shows that alcohol does indeed affect sperm and can contribute to miscarriage, birth defects and stillbirth. There is still insufficient evidence to confirm whether prenatal alcohol does play a role in sperm contributing specifically to FASD, but it's worth men avoiding alcohol in any case.
The next role men play is in supporting their partners in an alcohol-free pregnancy – wāhine hapu / pregnant women must be supported by the entire whānau to have an alcohol-free pregnancy and partners can help with this.
However, if a diagnosis of FASD has been reached, there are many ways men can be an involved and contributing parent. Tamariki and rangatahi can be extremely challenging on both individual caregivers / parents and on marriages / partnerships, so it's essential for parents to be on the same page and back each other up. Become as FASD-informed as possible, attend the same courses as your partner, and become a coach, mentor and role model.
Elizabeth Elliot, Chair of the advisory group for FASD-Hub Australia introduces this recording of a webinar on the subject held in September 2022 about the male role in FASD.
Click here to watch the video.
Other resources mentioned in the webinar can be accessed here:
In Aotearoa, we have a few support websites specifically for fathers including:
• Fathers for Families (ten week course through Family Success Matters)
and many more on Health Navigator NZ.
