Fathers’ engagement in pregnancy and childbirth: evidence from a national survey

Abstract

BackgroundEarly involvement of fathers with their children has increased in recent times and this is associated with improved cognitive and socio-emotional development of children. Research in the area of father’s engagement with pregnancy and childbirth has mainly focused on white middle-class men and has been mostly qualitative in design. Thus, the aim of this study was to understand who was engaged during pregnancy and childbirth, in what way, and how paternal engagement may influence a woman’s uptake of services, her perceptions of care, and maternal outcomes.MethodsThis study involved secondary analysis of data on 4616 women collected in a 2010 national maternity survey of England asking about their experiences of maternity care, health and well-being up to three months after childbirth, and their partners’ engagement in pregnancy, labour and postnatally. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, binary logistic regression and generalised linear modelling.ResultsOver 80% of fathers were ‘pleased or ‘overjoyed’ in response to their partner’s pregnancy, over half were present for the pregnancy test, for one or more antenatal checks, and almost all were present for ultrasound examinations and for labour. Three-quarters of fathers took paternity leave and, during the postnatal period, most fathers helped with infant care. Paternal engagement was highest in partners of primiparous white women, those living in less deprived areas, and in those whose pregnancy was planned. Greater paternal engagement was positively associated with first contact with health professionals before 12 weeks gestation, having a dating scan, number of antenatal checks, offer and attendance at antenatal classes, and breastfeeding. Paternity leave was also strongly associated with maternal well-being at three months postpartum.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the considerable sociodemographic variation in partner support and engagement. It is important that health professionals recognise that women in some sociodemographic groups may be less supported by their partner and more reliant on staff and that this may have implications for how women access care.

Australian Fathers’ Study: What Influences Paternal Engagement With Antenatal Care?

“…There were qualitative and quantitative components to the questionnaire. Given that fathers' level of engagement was the primary outcome, the disciplinarian to one of active involvement in the care of children of all ages (Chin, Hall, & Daiches, 2011;Redshaw & Henderson, 2013;Tallandini & Genesoni, 2009). Significantly, this transition has been applied to the antenatal and birth periods, during which men are taking a more active role in pregnancy processes (Chin et al, 2011;Tallandini & Genesoni, 2009).…”

Father Involvement and Psychological Well-Being of Pregnant Women

“…Women whose father of the baby were involved during pregnancy were more likely to start prenatal care in the first trimester, have higher number of prenatal visits, attend prenatal classes, reduce cigarette consumption, have fewer premature and low birthweight infants, have skin-to-skin contact with the baby soon after birth, breastfeed and report lower levels of postpartum depression (Alio, Mbah, Grunsten, & Salihu, 2011; Fagan & Lee, 2010; Martin, McNamara, Milot, Halle, & Hair, 2007; Meltzer-Brody et al, 2013; Redshaw & Henderson, 2013). In a study involving focus groups of men and women, the researchers found that reduction of maternal stress levels was reported as the primary benefit of having the father of the baby involved during pregnancy (Alio, Lewis, Scarborough, Harris, & Fiscella, 2013).…”

Evaluation of selected reasons and analysis of the course of delivery accompanied by a partner

“…In the group of fathers present at the delivery, higher education was dominant whereas in the group of fathers who did not accompany the women, vocational and secondary education prevailed. Similarly, according to Redshaw and Henderson, couples having higher education participated in a family delivery more often than other couples, and the majority of pregnancies had been planned [16]. A delivery accompanied by a partner was chosen more frequently by couples assessing their material status as high whereas among women giving birth in a traditional way, couples of medium material status prevailed, which points to the importance of material affluence in taking decisions on the type of childbirth.…”

“…Similar results are given by an appropriate body position and exercises with equipment for women in labour, which can be used with the partner's help. Such a procedure quickens labour and protects the perineum against injuries [16]. Symptoms of incoming perineal rupture constitute an indication for prophylactic incision [20].…”