title: Paternal fears of childbirth: a literature review.
abstract: To date, most studies on paternal childbirth fears have been exploratory or descriptive, conducted outside of the United States, and focused mainly on White, first-time fathers. Identified fears include harm to the mother or newborn, partner pain, feelings of helplessness, lack of knowledge, and fear of high-risk intervention. Fathers often report that childbirth classes are not helpful and, in some cases, even increase their fears. Some fathers view birth as traumatic, changing their perception of and relationship with their partner. Fathers also voice the need for more information and for reassurance that they are doing the right things for their partner during childbirth. This article summarizes the research findings on paternal childbirth fears and recommends topics for future study.
authors.affiliation: SUZANNE HANSON has been a certified nurse-midwife for 2 years and a maternal-child registered nurse for over 20 years. She is currently employed at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. LAUREN P. HUNTER is an associate professor of nursing at San Diego State University in San Diego, California. JILL R. BORMANN is a research nurse scientist at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and an adjunct associate research professor in the School of Nursing at San Diego State University. ELISA J. SOBO is a professor of anthropology at San Diego State University.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Lauren P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Jill R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bormann
authors.forename: Elisa J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Sobo
references.citation: J Perinat Educ. 2006 Fall;15(4):18-27
references.pmid: 17768431
references.citation: Midwifery. 1998 Mar;14(1):10-7
references.pmid: 9633372
references.citation: J Behav Med. 2006 Aug;29(4):359-76
references.pmid: 16847590
references.citation: Appl Nurs Res. 2011 Aug;24(3):138-46
references.pmid: 20974063
references.citation: Mod Midwife. 1996 Feb;6(2):6-9
references.pmid: 8705370
references.citation: Birth. 2000 Sep;27(3):177-84
references.pmid: 11251499
references.citation: J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1992 Mar-Apr;21(2):114-20
references.pmid: 1607980
references.citation: J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1994 Mar-Apr;23(3):246-51
references.pmid: 8207556
references.citation: Scand J Caring Sci. 2003 Jun;17(2):153-9
references.pmid: 12753516
references.citation: J Perinat Educ. 2005 Spring;14(2):8-18
references.pmid: 17273428
references.citation: BJOG. 2006 Jun;113(6):638-46
references.pmid: 16709206
references.citation: Can J Nurs Res. 2002 Dec;34(4):15-24
references.pmid: 12619474
references.citation: Nurs Inq. 2003 Mar;10(1):66-77
references.pmid: 12622806
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1987 Feb;52(2):345-53
references.pmid: 3559895
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2000 May;50(10):1385-401
references.pmid: 10741575
references.citation: J Psychosom Res. 1992 May;36(4):317-27
references.pmid: 1593507
references.citation: J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 1998 Mar;19(1):38-43
references.pmid: 9575467
references.citation: J Nurse Midwifery. 1997 Jan-Feb;42(1):17-24
references.pmid: 9037931
references.citation: J Contin Educ Nurs. 2006 Sep-Oct;37(5):218-24
references.pmid: 17004395
references.citation: Br J Med Psychol. 1990 Sep;63 ( Pt 3):255-9
references.pmid: 2245201
references.citation: Br J Psychiatry. 1987 Jun;150:782-6
references.pmid: 3651732
references.citation: J Holist Nurs. 2005 Dec;23(4):395-414
references.pmid: 16251489
references.citation: J Midwifery Womens Health. 2006 Mar-Apr;51(2):112-8
references.pmid: 16504908
references.citation: J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2006 Jan-Feb;35(1):78-86
references.pmid: 16466355
references.citation: Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2007 May;132(1):40-5
references.pmid: 16846674
references.citation: J Adv Nurs. 2006 Mar;53(5):502-12
references.pmid: 16499671
references.citation: J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 1996 Mar;17(1):47-52
references.pmid: 8860886
references.citation: Pract Midwife. 1999 Jan;2(1):23-6
references.pmid: 10214303
references.citation: Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1983 Oct;22(10):700-3
references.pmid: 6617049
references.citation: J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2005 Mar;26(1):63-72
references.pmid: 15962723