Childbirth is also a men's issue: A clinical-qualitative research about the father's perception about their psychological reactions during delivery

This study discusses the father’s presence in delivery rooms. The research was based on the clinical-qualitative method and it aimed to identify the fathers’ perceptions of their psychological reactions during childbirth. The fathers were concerned in looking for information about the delivery and also about the pregnancy itself in several sources. The admission and presence in the delivery room were perceived as disturbing, and the feelings experienced during this process were classified as ambivalent ones. Moreover, this participation was considered by them as essential for the building of the father-child relationship, and it also pointed to a more open-hearted position concerning their participation in the delivery. Keywords: childbirth; hospital; father-child relationship.