title: At home in early labour: what fathers do and how they feel--part 3.
abstract: This is the third in a series of three articles which present data from a 2010 survey completed by 263 fathers on their experience of being at home with their partner in early labour. Fathers' state of mind during early labour is explored. Anxiety levels are found to be high, particularly in regard to the wellbeing of their partners and babies. Attending antenatal classes does not appear to diminish anxiety and often, nor does speaking to a midwife in early labour. These results require cautious interpretation but also suggest that men need better preparation for their role in supporting mothers during labour.
authors.affiliation: University of Worcester.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catling
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult