An unexpected first Father’s Day for new dad in the NICU

For first-time dad Liam Grant, Father’s Day wasn’t something he expected to celebrate this year.

Liam’s son Jude, now 4 weeks old, is receiving care at Monash Health’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after he was born premature at 28 weeks gestation.

‘It was pretty whirlwind,’ Liam said of becoming a dad.

‘I haven’t had a chance to overthink it. But it’s really exciting. I’m really happy and proud.’

‘I wasn’t really planning for this year’s Father’s Day to be a thing we’d focus on. But I’m looking forward to celebrating it with Ruby and Jude.’

Jude is doing well and will receive hospital care for a few more months before he goes home.

Favouring dad already

While the new parents did not have as much time as they had planned to prepare for Jude’s arrival, mother Ruby Reilly joked it has benefited Liam.

‘It is my joke that Jude came early, so Liam would get one more Father’s Day than I’d get Mother’s Day,’ she said.

She said it has been special watching Liam become a dad.

‘He’s very dedicated already,’ Ruby said.

‘He’s so excited and he’s been as hands-on as he can be. Does all the nappies that he can and gets involved in the feeds.’

While Jude’s been busy growing and resting in the NICU, he still somehow had time to get his dad a Father’s Day present.

‘Jude’s got a present for Liam,’ joked Ruby.

‘So organised already at 4 weeks old.’

On Father’s Day, Liam will go out for breakfast and spend precious hours with Jude in the NICU, before going to see his father and Ruby’s.

‘It’s been special,’ Liam said of becoming a dad.

‘The shift in perspective, I feel like everything I’m doing now is for him and how he’ll go in the future.’

On Father’s Day, we celebrate dads, stepfathers, adoptive and foster dads, grandfathers raising grandchildren, and those who take on fatherly roles in the lives of others. We extend our thanks to those working across our health service, who balance their caring roles at home and at work.

We also acknowledge that Father’s Day can be a difficult time for many.

For those who have experienced loss, faced struggles with conception, or are missing their fathers today, we hold you in our thoughts.