You are Primed for Fatherhoood

We often hear about the hormonal shifts that women go through during pregnancy and childbirth, but have you ever thought about how fathers are also affected? It might surprise you to learn that dads experience hormonal changes too! Research shows that during their partner’s pregnancy and the first few months after their child is born, fathers see fluctuations in hormones like testosterone, cortisol, and prolactin—just to name a few. These changes help get them ready for their important role in parenting.

Dads play a vital part in raising children, and there are many hormonal and physiological factors that support them as they step into their parenting roles. While we’ve seen plenty of studies focusing on moms and their hormonal changes, research into fathers has been gaining traction recently. We’ll dive into some fascinating insights from two articles published in PubMed, along with anecdotes from Jennifer L. Verdolin’s book, *Raised by Animals*.