Heather L Longworth1, Carol K Kingdon. 1. Midwifery Research Department, Room 54, Antenatal Clinic, Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Crown Street, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK. heather.longworth@lwh.nhs.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: to explore the role, expectations and meanings that individual fathers ascribe to their presence at birth. DESIGN: a Heideggerian phenomenological approach utilising in-depth interviews at two different time points. SETTING: large tertiary maternity unit in the North West of England. PARTICIPANTS: 11 first-time fathers accessed through hospital-based parentcraft sessions. FINDINGS: four main themes were evident: fathers' disconnection with pregnancy and labour; fathers on the periphery of events during labour; control; and fatherhood beginning at birth and reconnection. KEY CONCLUSIONS: birth is the moment that fathers ascribe as the beginning of fatherhood. However, through their lack of knowledge and perceived control, they struggle to find a role there. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: midwives are ideally placed to help fathers to find a role through parentcraft and encouraging participation at birth.
OBJECTIVE: to explore the role, expectations and meanings that individual fathers ascribe to their presence at birth. DESIGN: a Heideggerian phenomenological approach utilising in-depth interviews at two different time points. SETTING: large tertiary maternity unit in the North West of England. PARTICIPANTS: 11 first-time fathers accessed through hospital-based parentcraft sessions. FINDINGS: four main themes were evident: fathers' disconnection with pregnancy and labour; fathers on the periphery of events during labour; control; and fatherhood beginning at birth and reconnection. KEY CONCLUSIONS: birth is the moment that fathers ascribe as the beginning of fatherhood. However, through their lack of knowledge and perceived control, they struggle to find a role there. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: midwives are ideally placed to help fathers to find a role through parentcraft and encouraging participation at birth.
Authors: Scovia N Mbalinda; Annettee Nakimuli; Sarah Nakubulwa; Othman Kakaire; Michael O Osinde; Nelson Kakande; Dan K Kaye Journal: Reprod Health Date: 2015-03-24 Impact factor: 3.223