Men warming to fatherhood

More than half of fathers-to-be attend antenatal classes with their partners and nearly all plan to be at their child's birth, says a new survey.

But despite men's enthusiasm for parenthood, many could miss out on parental rights.

The poll of 2,000 pregnant women and their partners found 52 per cent of men went to birth preparation classes. Only two per cent said they would not be at the birth. But many men do not realise that until new laws come in at the end of 2004, unless they are married to the mother of their child, they will not automatically be guaranteed parental rights.

The Pregnancy & Birth Magazine poll also found 78 per cent of couples said their sex life had suffered since pregnancy. But 29 per cent of men felt their pregnant partners were "sexier than ever".