The government, which backs a more hands-on approach to fatherhood, is supporting the booklet, which will be distributed free to more than 80% of new fathers over the next year.

The Bounty Guide to Fatherhood is written by charity Fathers Direct, which promotes "close and positive relationships between men and their children".

It will be available from Mothercare and ante-natal clinics and has the backing of the Royal College of Midwives and the National Childbirth Trust.

Bounty calls it "a radical new approach to informing and recognising fathers".

Helpful tips

The guide includes anecdotes from fathers.

Tips range from advice about attending ante-natal classes, talking to the unborn baby, building up a baby fund and finding out about benefits to wearing loose clothes in the delivery room because of the heat.

The guide also advises fathers to make sure their name is on their child's birth certificate if they are not married to the mother and to apply with their partner to the Central Registry for parental responsibility.

If they do not, the guide warns that they could see their child being adopted, having their name changed or being moved abroad without their consent.

It also tells fathers-to-be to push for involvement in the pregnancy.

It says: "If you feel ignored by the [maternity] services, remind them that when dads are well-informed, mothers typically have shorter labours and need less pain relief, successful breastfeeding is more likely and post-natal depression less likely."

Some fathers complain that health workers shut them out of the pregnancy.

Post-natal depression

A recent NOP opinion poll found that up to 10% of men suffer from depression following the birth of their baby.

Steve Jamieson of the Men's Health Forum says the problem is only just being recognised.

Mark Shepherd wants to make a contribution as a father

He believes many men feel rejected by their partner because they are so engrossed in the child.

They also feel worried about the sudden extra responsibility and financial burden which they may not have prepared themselves for because the reality only hits home when the baby is born.

Mark Shepherd, a father, discusses the difficulties of getting good information

Home Office minister Paul Boateng, who helped launch the guide, said: "No-one ever said being a dad was going to be easy and it isn't.

"Nothing quite prepares you for it, but the Bounty guide will get you off to a good start, at least thinking about how our lives and attitudes need to change if we are to do the business as fathers."

Duncan Fisher, co-founder of Fathers Direct, said: "Until now, most pregnancy books have not been easy for fathers to read because they are either focused entirely on mothers or tend to patronise fathers."

The Men's Health Forum says government plans to get health visitors to promote good parenting could help fathers if health visitors insisted on seeing both parents after the birth and were more aware that fathers could have problems.