title: First-time fathers experiences of their prenatal preparation in relation to challenges met in the early parenthood period: Implications for early parenthood preparation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to describe first-time fathers experiences of their prenatal preparation in relation to challenges met in the early parenthood period.
  
  
  METHODS
  a qualitative study was conducted and data was analysed with a phenomenographical approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  15 first-time fathers were recruited from three postnatal units in southern Sweden and interviewed approximately one month after their baby was born.
  
  
  RESULTS
  three categories and 14 conceptions about fathers' experiences of their preparation emerged from the data. 'Acquiring knowledge and forming realistic expectations' was essential for 'Developing strategies' and 'Being facilitated and supported' enhanced these processes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  supporting fathers to develop strategies for life with a new baby and providing expert guidance to fruitful and accurate information may help the construction of a fatherhood identity and strengthen the fatherhood role. The findings can be used to develop a parental preparation for early parenthood that will correspond to fathers' needs.
authors.affiliation: All Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: petra.palsson@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pålsson
authors.affiliation: All Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: eva-kristina.persson@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Eva K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.affiliation: All Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.ekelin@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekelin
authors.affiliation: All Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: inger.hallstrom@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kristensson Hallström
authors.affiliation: All Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: linda.kvist@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kvist
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D064186:Prenatal Education / Q000592:standards*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Antenatal care; Experience; Fathers (MeSH); Parenthood; Prenatal education (MeSH); Preparation