title: First-time fathers' experiences of normal childbirth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and describe first-time fathers' experiences of normal childbirth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative interview study using a thematic analysis for analysing the transcripts.
  
  
  METHODS
  purposeful sampling was used. Eight men were interviewed two to six months after experiencing childbirth. Participants were men who had become fathers for the first time.
  
  
  METHODS
  A county located in the middle of Sweden covering both urban and rural areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis resulted in one major theme - a transformative experience - with four sub-themes: preparing for childbirth, feeling vulnerable in a new situation, being confirmed as part of a unit, and meeting their child for the first time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that the needs of prospective fathers should be given more recognition during childbirth. The findings also show that the midwife is an important person for prospective fathers, both before and during the birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the study show what affects first-time fathers' experiences of childbirth. By listening to fathers and recognising them as part of a unit with the woman giving birth, midwifes can support them and increase their participation. Thereby, they can find their role in an unfamiliar situation and thus have a positive experience of childbirth.
authors.affiliation: Midwife Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Vrinnevi Hospital SE-603 79 Norrköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ledenfors
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing Science, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. Electronic address: carina.bertero@liu.se.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berterö
mesh_terms: D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D010332:Paternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Childbirth; Experiences; First-time father; Qualitative study; Thematic analysis