Western Sydney University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
Women Birth. 2022 Feb;35(1):e41-e48. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2021.01.005. Epub 2021 Jan 23.
Being present during labour and birth can, for some fathers, result in feelings of fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and helplessness. Witnessing birth complications or adverse events may cause immediate and long-term anxiety and stress. In turn, this experience can impact on men's sense of self and identity as a man and father and can affect his relationship with his infant and partner. The aim of this study was to explore the immediate and longer-term impact of witnessing a complicated or adverse birth experiences on men in heterosexual relationships and their role as a father.
An interpretive qualitative approach informed the design of this study. A total of 17 fathers, one from New Zealand and sixteen from Australia participated through face to face, telephone and email interviews. The ages of the men were between 24 to 48 years, and the time since the adverse birth experience ranged from 4.5 months to 20.5 years.
Thematic analysis revealed three major themes representing men's experiences of witnessing a complicated birth or adverse event; 'Worst experience of my life', 'Negotiating my place: communicating with health professionals' and 'Growing stronger or falling apart'. Men were unprepared and feared for the lives of their infants and partners, they expected and wanted to be involved in the birth and the maternity care journey, instead they were pushed to the side and excluded from the labour and birth during times of emergency. Being excluded from part or all of the birth perpetuated worry and vulnerability as, at times, men were left not knowing anything about what was happening to their partners. Midwives and other health professionals' support was important to the way fathers adjusted and processed the complications of the labour and birth event. This experience impacted on their own mental health and their relationship with their baby and partner.
Findings demonstrate that following a complicated or adverse birth experience, men questioned their role as a father, their place in the family and their role at the birth. There is a need to include and inform the expectant father that help is available if they experience negative feelings of hopelessness or despair. Maternity services and care providers need to involve fathers so that they feel part of the maternity care system and journey which may mitigate feelings of helplessness.
对于一些父亲来说，在分娩期间陪伴在妻子身边可能会让他们感到恐惧、不确定、焦虑和无助。目睹分娩并发症或不良事件可能会导致即时和长期的焦虑和压力。反过来，这种经历会影响男性作为男人和父亲的自我意识和身份认同，并会影响他与婴儿和伴侣的关系。本研究的目的是探讨目睹复杂或不良分娩经历对异性恋关系中的男性及其作为父亲的角色的即时和长期影响。
解释性定性方法为这项研究提供了信息。共有 17 位父亲参与了这项研究，其中一位来自新西兰，16 位来自澳大利亚，他们通过面对面、电话和电子邮件进行了访谈。这些男性的年龄在 24 岁至 48 岁之间，自不良分娩经历以来的时间从 4.5 个月到 20.5 年不等。
主题分析揭示了三个主要主题，代表了男性目睹复杂分娩或不良事件的经历：“我一生中最糟糕的经历”、“协商我的位置：与卫生专业人员沟通”和“变得更强或崩溃”。男性毫无准备，担心婴儿和伴侣的生命安全，他们希望参与分娩和产妇护理之旅，但在紧急情况下，他们被推到一边，被排除在分娩之外。被排除在分娩过程的一部分或全部之外，使男性感到担忧和脆弱，因为有时他们对伴侣的情况一无所知。助产士和其他卫生专业人员的支持对父亲适应和处理分娩并发症的方式很重要。这一经历影响了他们的心理健康以及与婴儿和伴侣的关系。
研究结果表明，在经历复杂或不良分娩后，父亲对自己作为父亲的角色、在家庭中的地位以及在分娩中的角色提出了质疑。如果父亲感到绝望或无助，需要告知他们可以获得帮助。产妇服务和护理提供者需要让父亲参与进来，让他们感受到产妇护理系统和旅程的一部分，这可能会减轻他们的无助感。
