Support during labour : first-time fathers' descriptions of requested and received support during the birth of their child

• Objective:  to explore how first-time fathers describe requested and received support during a normal birth. Design:  qualitative research design. Ten first-time fathers were interviewed during the first postpartum week.  Individual  open-ended  interviews  were  used  to  explore  the  fathers’  descriptions,  and  the interviews were analysed using qualitative analysis. Setting:  a labour ward at one hospital in a south-western county of Sweden in November and December 2006. Participants:  first-time  fathers  who  had  experienced  a  normal  birth  at  the  hospital  during  the study period. Findings:  the support described is presented as one main theme, ‘being involved or being left out’, which included four underlying categories: ‘an allowing atmosphere’, ‘balancing involvement’, ‘being seen’ and ‘feeling left out’. Key conclusions:  fathers perceived that they were given good support when they were allowed to ask questions during labour, when they had the opportunity to interact with the midwife and their partner, and when they could choose when to be involved or to step back. Fathers want to be seen as individuals who are part of the labouring couple. If fathers are left out, they tend to feel helpless; this can result in a feeling of panic and can put their supportive role of their partner at risk. Implications  for practice:  the  results  of  this  study could  initiate  discussions  about  how  health-care professionals can develop support given to the labouring couple, with an interest in increasing paternal involvement.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Övrig annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Other Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Childbirth

Experience

Father

Midwife

Support

Medical sciences

Medicin

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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