Fathers’ Feelings and Experiences during Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Qualitative Study

Eksträm, Anette; Arvidsson, Kristina; Falkensträm, Malin; Thorstensson, Stina

doi:10.4172/2167-1168.1000136

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(62 reference statements)

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“…They also found it negative when personal values of midwives were exposed in meetings. This is also in line with earlier research that professional support should be sensitive to individual needs [ 18 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…The fathers described that they thought they could not meet the babies' needs in the same way as the mothers could in the first months so they placed themselves beside the mothers. Earlier research describe the importance of midwives actively meeting fathers as parents-to-be and confirming their ability to meet the needs of their baby [ 16 , 18 ]. The fathers felt welcomed by the midwives but at the same time invincible during meetings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fathers are mostly content with support from midwives [ 14 , 16 ] but they want more support and guidance in their role as fathers-to-be [ 1 , 5 ]. Feelings of helplessness, worry, and fear can be difficult to talk about and fathers need support from health professionals to handle these emotions [ 1 , 17 , 18 ]. Being able to take part in the care of their newborn baby is satisfactory but fathers experience a lack of information for them as fathers [ 14 , 16 , 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First-Time Fathers’ Experience of Support from Midwives in Maternity Clinics: An Interview Study

Huusko

Sjöberg

Ekström

et al. 2018

Nursing Research and Practice

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Background Research shows that first-time fathers want to take part in preparation for birth and parenthood but they describe being excluded by health professionals. Aim The aim of this study was to illustrate first-time fathers' experiences of support from midwives in maternity clinics as a step in the validation of “The Father Perceived-Professional-Support” (The FaPPS) scale. Methods A qualitative content analysis with an inductive and deductive approach was used; seven first-time fathers were strategically selected and interviewed. In the inductive part the following open question was asked: “How did you perceive the support from the antenatal midwife/midwives?” In the deductive part, the fathers were asked to respond to the FaPPS scale, in order to receive their thoughts and understanding of the scale, inspired by the “Think-aloud” method. Findings The inductive results showed two main categories: Experience of not knowing what support they needed and Experience of being excluded. The fathers found support from other fathers in parental education classes, but they lack time to discuss. Overall it seems as if the fathers answered both from their own perspective and from the mothers' perspective. This was not evident in the deductive results. The FaPPs scale should therefore include professionals' ability to strengthen social support from other first-time fathers and professionals' ability to offer support to the mother. Conclusion and Clinical Implications. The fathers experienced exclusion both by themselves and also by midwives. Midwives should offer both parents the opportunity to pose questions. It is important for expectant fathers that time for discussion is planned in parental education classes. The FaPPS scale is useful but needs further development. Parts of our result are in line with earlier research, for decades; therefore it is necessary to focus more on support for fathers.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

First-Time Fathers’ Experience of Support from Midwives in Maternity Clinics: An Interview Study

Huusko

Sjöberg

Ekström

et al. 2018

Nursing Research and Practice

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“…Their partners, on the contrary, must address their own emotional reactions at the same time as they are assumed to be providing support. Partners' capacity to handle challenges during the birth process will fluctuate as well, as they may be subject to feelings of being left out, helplessness and, at the same time, excitement about the birth of their baby (Bäckström & Hertfelt Wahn, 2011;Ekström et al, 2013). If their partners feel helpless, expecting women may be unable to obtain or retain their inner strength, introducing disintegrative power into the relationship (Fahy & Parratt, 2006).…”

Section: Parents' Need For Support During Labour and Birthmentioning

confidence: 99%

The concept, importance and values of support during childbearing and breastfeeding – A discourse paper

2021

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Background Professional support in childbearing has beneficial effects on childbirth experience, interactions within the family, breastfeeding and medical outcomes. However, more knowledge is needed about prerequisites for professional support to be valuable and satisfactory during childbearing. Aim The aim of this discourse paper is to describe and explore prerequisites for professional support that are of value for women and their families during childbearing as well as how healthcare organizations can be formed to facilitate these prerequisites. Design Discourse paper. Methods This discourse paper is based on our own experiences and is supported by literature and theory. Results Well‐functioning structures and processes facilitate professional support that leads to safe, secure, calm and prepared parents with the ability to handle the challenges of childbearing and parenting. When organizing care in childbearing, prerequisites for support needs must also be considered.

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“…To handle the challenge of transition to parenthood, both firsttime mothers and partners need parental preparatory support, particularly socially and professionally (19)(20)(21). However, partners to first-time mothers describe that professional support in counseling during pregnancy mainly focuses on the woman and the physiological changes, and partners felt left out and ignored (22).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the “Inspirational Lecture” in Combination With “Ordinary Antenatal Parental Classes” as Professional Support for Expectant Parents: A Pilot Study as a Randomized Controlled Trial

Thorstensson

Ekström‐Bergström

Bäckström

2020

Front. Public Health

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Background: Both expectant mothers and their partners describe weaknesses in ordinary parental preparatory professional support provided internationally and nationally within Sweden. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the parental preparatory professional support provided by midwives for expectant parents within Sweden. This study will evaluate the effects on expectant parents of receiving a combination of an “inspirational lecture” and “ordinary antenatal parental classes” compared with only “ordinary antenatal parental classes.” Methods/Design: This block randomized controlled trial included an intervention as a pilot study, in which expectant parents were randomized for (1) the inspirational lecture and ordinary antenatal parental classes (intervention group [IG]) ( n = 66) or (2) ordinary antenatal parental classes (control group [CG]) ( n = 60). Data collection with repeated questionnaires was conducted in the first week and 6 months after birth. Statistical analyses were conducted for participant characteristics, differences between parents within IG and CG, effects of the intervention, intention to treat, and internal consistency of the included measurements. Results: The intervention showed a tendency to be gainful for one out of four outcomes related to birth experience, and parents' perceived quality of parental couple relationship consensus and sexuality and manageability. These results were more prominent for the partners. Parents within both the intervention and control groups reported decreased social support in the first 6 months after birth. Conclusion and Clinical Implications: Overall, the concept of the inspirational lecture in combination with ordinary antenatal parental classes as parental preparatory professional support seems to be a valuable care intervention. However, this study was a pilot study and the results should therefore be interpreted with caution. More research is needed since childbirth and transition to parenthood are complex processes in need of comprehension.

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Fathers’ Feelings and Experiences during Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Qualitative Study

Cited by 7 publications

References 24 publications

First-Time Fathers’ Experience of Support from Midwives in Maternity Clinics: An Interview Study

First-Time Fathers’ Experience of Support from Midwives in Maternity Clinics: An Interview Study

The concept, importance and values of support during childbearing and breastfeeding – A discourse paper

Effects of the “Inspirational Lecture” in Combination With “Ordinary Antenatal Parental Classes” as Professional Support for Expectant Parents: A Pilot Study as a Randomized Controlled Trial

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