exploring first-time fathers’ feelings and experiences during labor - delivery of their partner/wife

Introduction: Considerable studies have been undertaken to assess and evaluate fathers’ feelings and experiences during labor and delivery of their partner/wife, however, investigation describing first-time fathers who are known to be especially vulnerable during labor and delivery remains under explored.Aim: This study aimed to assess and determine the feelings and experiences of first-time fathers during labor and delivery of their partner/wife.Methodology: A descriptive design was utilized in this investigation and data were collected over a period of three months from July to September 2012. A total of fifty one (51) convenient samples of first-time fathers whose wife/partner had given birth in one government hospital in Samar, Philippines were asked to participate in the investigation. The Kuopio Instrumentation for Fathers (KIF) was the main tool used to explore the feelings and experiences of the expectant fathers relative to the labor and delivery of their partner/wife.Results: Findings indicated that majority of the respondents felt “happy” (88.24%, n=45) and “proud” (68.63%, n=35), and at the same time “anxious” (80.39%, n=41) during the labor and delivery of their partner/wife. Majority also reported “they felt love” and were “grateful” to their partner/wife, however, 78.43% (n=40) were “worried” and “felt guilty about their partner/wife being in so much pain. Vast majority of the respondents felt “happy”, “proud”,and “felt moved by the birth of their baby”. As to feelings about the staff and environment, 62.75% (n=32) were grateful with the staff, 47.06% (n=24) stated that the staff were friendly, and 74.51% (n=38) noted that the staff were very professional. Results also indicated that attendance of husbands during delivery is not practiced. Furthermore, no correlations were found between respondents’ profiles and their feelings during the delivery of theirpartner/wife.Conclusion: Findings revealed that presence of first-fathers during the labor and delivery of their partner/wife evoked positive and negative feelings towards themselves, towards their baby, towards their wife, and towards the staff.