#439 - 🔵 [PAS 2026] - Are We Leaving Dads Out of the Most Important Moments in Their Baby's Care?

Send us Fan MailDr. John James Parker, internist, pediatrician, and researcher at Northwestern University and Lurie Children's Hospital, joins Daphna and Rupa for a conversation about one of the most overlooked players in family-centered care — fathers. He shares why paternal stress in the NICU and postpartum period often peaks later than maternal stress, why discharge instructions routinely go home with only one parent, and how a few small changes — making eye contact with dad, asking him a question, giving him a specific task — can fundamentally shift how engaged fathers feel in their child's care. He also reflects on the inaugural Fathers in Pediatrics special interest group at PAS, and makes the case that thinking about the whole family unit, including the mental and physical health of every caregiver, is not a nice-to-have but a core part of caring for the child.Support the showAs always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.Enjoy!