Expectant first-time fathers' experiences of pregnancy

Objective: to describe first-time-expectant fathers' experiences of pregnancy. Design: an inductive method using narrative interview form and qualitative content text analysis. The text of the transcripts was coded and categorised. Settings and participants: seven first-time-expectant fathers living in a multicultural industrial town in southern Sweden were interviewed individually when their partner was in the 38th to 39th week of pregnancy. Measurements and findings: all the fathers-to-be experienced some psychological, social and/or physical change during the pregnancy. The main category, was 'time of transition' Eight categories were found under this. They were: 'feelings of unreality, 'insufficiency and inadequacy', 'exclusion', 'reality', 'social changes', 'physical changes', 'responsibility, and development'. Key conclusion: the fathers'-to-be special needs for support and encouragement during pregnancy may be as important as those of the mothers'-to-be. The caregiver needs to be as aware of and sensitive to these needs. However, before any interventions can be recommended more research is needed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.