The benefits of a questionnaire for fathers as an essential component of the routine antenatal evaluations are immediate and enduring. Paternal health issues affecting the mother and child will be addressed immediately. Forward-thinking care will plan for the immediate postpartum stage. Inclusion of the father in pregnancy sets the stage for paternal inclusion in pediatric well care.
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Every pregnancy undergoes routine medical management which involves pre-natal care. This care has been, and continues to be, centered on the mother. The foundational component of this care is contained in the ACOG written evaluation completed at the initial antenatal visit. It is comprised of a health and mental health history followed by a physical examination and supporting laboratory testing, which creates a baseline for understanding the mother's wellness and potential for complications both physical and mental.
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Routine pre-natal care requires equivalent attention to the health, mental health, genetic and epigenetic history of the father. A standard of care that settles for less does not reflect a holistic understanding of the interconnectedness of the father, mother and child. It can not do justice to the health needs of the mother, the father or the child.

The creation and standardization of an intake questionnaire for fathers establishes an additional foundational record. The questions mirror those on the maternal questionnaire with crucial modifications that will improve care for the mother and child. The health and mental health history of the father is as central and relevant to understanding and managing pregnancy as is that of the mother. A growing body of studies in obstetrics, pediatric, and psychiatric journals have reached this conclusion, especially as it influences the child and mental health. A unique set of questions is required to detect paternal depression mental health and epigenetic factors that might affect the health of the mother.