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  • Title: Fathers in the birth room: what are they expecting and experiencing? A phenomenological study.
    Author: Longworth HL, Kingdon CK.
    Journal: Midwifery; 2011 Oct; 27(5):588-94. PubMed ID: 20673600.
    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.
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