An Exploration of Aspects of Boundary Ambiguity Among Young, Unmarried Fathers During the Prenatal Period

Abstract

This research represents an exploration of patterns of boundary ambiguity among poor, young, unmarried men and their reproductive partners. Interviews were conducted with men and their partners during the third trimester of pregnancy. Interviews focused on patterns of men's physical and psychological presence in relationships with their partners and in activities associated with pregnancy and prenatal care. Patterns of presence among fathersto-be are identified and factors associated with those patterns are explored. Patterns of presence reflect degrees of physical and psychological presence in relation to pregnancy and the father role. These patterns reflect the influence of various social and emotional dimensions that impact a man's transition to the new father role and raise a number of policy and practice issues.

‘Paddling upstream’: Fathers’ involvement during pregnancy as described by expectant fathers and mothers

“…). We found that fathers did not always feel welcome and that they sometimes felt ignored and excluded from antenatal care, a finding consistent with other studies (Leite , Deave et al . ), even though maternal healthcare should provide support for both parents in preparing for childbirth and parenting (Andersson‐Ellström ).…”

“…A gendered pattern shows that even if fathers are invited to attend parental education and prenatal care visits, and they want to be involved during the pregnancy, fathers are not as included as mothers (Fenwick et al 2012). We found that fathers did not always feel wel-come and that they sometimes felt ignored and excluded from antenatal care, a finding consistent with other studies (Leite 2007, Deave et al 2008, even though maternal healthcare should provide support for both parents in preparing for childbirth and parenting (Andersson-Ellstr€ om 2008).…”

Father-Inclusive Perinatal Parent Education Programs: A Systematic Review

“…This issue likely persists because of multiple factors, 80,81 including clinicians being unwilling or inadequately trained to engage fathers, 15,63 programs not being tailored to men's parenting needs, 14,61,65 and maternal gatekeeping preventing men's active involvement in programs during pregnancy. 82,83 These factors may help explain some of the reasons for men feeling marginalized from health care settings 84,85 and men's perceptions that there is little role for their involvement during pregnancy and infancy. 86 -88 Clinicians play a key role in promoting early father involvement because they are likely to be among the first to come in contact with mothers and fathers expecting an infant or recently had an infant.…”

Child Healthcare Decision-Making: Examining "Conjointness" in Paternal Identities Among Residential and Non-Residential Fathers

“…Previous research with fathers closely resembling our participants (i.e., low-tomiddle income, non-married) has suggested that medical care providers and hospital personnel are uniquely positioned to intervene with fathers in the perinatal period (Leite, 2007). Indeed, fathers have been found to attend prenatal appointments, their child's birth, pediatric appointments, and attend to partner mental well-being (Carlson & McLanahan, 2004;Garfield & Isacco, 2006;Garfield & Isacco, 2009).…”