References
Italian fathers' experiences of labour pain
Abstract
Background:
Most women in Italy ask the father of their baby to be with them during labour. While the benefits on labour outcomes related to the presence of a support person, specifically the infant's father, have largely been demonstrated, few studies have focused on the meaning of this experience for fathers who chose to be with their partners during labour. Despite growing literature on this topic, no study has been conducted in Italy.
Methods:
The objective of the study is to explain the meaning of the labour pain experience from the father's point of view. The chosen research method was phenomenology. The study involved six fathers. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews, until data saturation was reached. Data analysis was conducted using Colaizzi's method. Strategies for increasing trustworthiness were used, such as member checking, peer examination, and code and recode procedures.
Results:
Five core themes emerged to describe fathers' experiences, including: 1) ‘labour pain is something you have to go through’; 2) a silent presence that gives courage; 3) ‘I hope I can stay until the end of the birth’; 4) ‘I didn't know that would happen’; and 5) fathers' need to ‘recharge their batteries'.
Conclusion:
Fathers, or partners, are an important resource for women during their labour. However, it is important to prepare men for this role and to provide anticipatory guidance on what to expect during labour. It is important to recognise that the partner may need support or guidance from the midwife during labour. Dissemination of these findings to fathers will also help them to know that their feelings and experiences are common and shared by others.
In 1996, a document titled ‘Care in normal birth’ was published by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the purpose of spreading a culture of normal birth with the least interventions possible while still being safe (WHO, 1996). Many of the recommendations in the document are about women's wellbeing in labour. It is specifically recommended that all women should be accompanied by the people they trust and feel comfortable with, such as their partner, best friend, mother or sister (WHO, 1996).
In Italy, almost 85% of women choose to have their partner to stay with them during labour (Regione Emilia-Romagna, 2011; Regione Emilia-Romagna, 2012). Fathers' presence during birth is increasing all over the world (Steen et al, 2012), even in those countries where, traditionally, males were excluded from maternity services (Shibli-Kometiani and Brown, 2012). Liukkonen and Vehviläinen-Julkunen (1997) noted that for those fathers who assist their partners' delivery, their presence at birth is an important part of fatherhood, and international and national agencies now encourage new fathers' involvement not only at birth, but throughout the whole pregnancy process and postpartum period (National Childbirth Trust, 2009; Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2010). In 2011, the Royal College of Midwives also emphasised the importance of the fathers' presence in the maternity process by publishing a document aimed both at fathers and at society as a whole, underlining how important a father's involvement is for the child's overall wellbeing and development (RCM, 2011).
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