“When we bother to look for the father’s impact, we find it — always.” In just under 300 pages, Paul Raeburn shares his findings from a deep dive into this less well-known field of study.

After finishing “Do Fathers Matter?”, I was most excited to leave it on my husband’s desk. A pregnant person gets lots of information about what’s happening to them, what their bodies are doing, and what happens next. Sometimes too much. But if you’re not carrying baby, it has to feel a little isolated. This book showed me that while the bond that comes from pregnancy and delivery is unique, babies are tuned in to everyone around them. By taking care of a baby, you are joining a special circle of people in a slightly altered state, focused on some of the hardest work there is. Understanding that is empowering!

As long as babies have been born, communities have come together to welcome two new people into the circle: a baby and a mother. Anthropological evidence shows that a tradition of attended births is almost universal across cultures. As the baby's arrival draws near, a mother's family, friends, and care team may gather in her home, often with their children. They keep her comfortable while the baby grows more quickly than ever and handle last-minute preparations so she can rest. Once labor begins, the more experienced of the group may step forward to guide through the pain and exhaustion of contractions. When baby finally arrives, they're handed to the mother. Her support team goes about making them comfortable while they get to know each other.