title: Fathers' experience of childbirth when non-progressive labour occurs and augmentation is established. A qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Augmentation with oxytocin during labour has increased in Western obstetrics over the last few decades. The aim of this study was to describe how fathers experienced childbirth when non-progressive labour occurred and augmentation was established.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative descriptive design. Ten fathers were interviewed 4-15 weeks post partum. The interviews were semi-structured and were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis revealed three themes and four sub-themes. The themes were: (1) A rational approach to own role, (2) Labour and birth as uncontrollable processes and (3) Relief about the decision of augmentation. The fathers had a rational approach and felt powerless when the process of labour was uncontrollable. They felt they were not able to help their partners in pain when non-progressive labour occurred. They experienced relief when augmentation was established because of the subsequent progression of labour, and because it was then easier to find a role as a helper.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that fathers feel relieved when augumentation is established. In addition, the study underlines that fathers, in order to regain control after experiencing the non-progressive labour, need directions from the midwives to carry out appropriate and usefull tasks.
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Research Unit, Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark; Metropolitan University College, Denmark; Nursing and Health Science Research Unit, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: khas@phmetropol.dk.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasman
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Research Unit, Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kjaergaard
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Health Science Research Unit, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bente Appel
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Esbensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004420:Dystocia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005220:Fathers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Augmentation; Childbirth experience; Dystocia; Fathers; Non-progressive labour; Oxytocin