The Invisible Men at the Gate of the Delivery Room: The Fathers What Do They Feel? What Do They Want?

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the birth-related experiences and expectations of the men who became fathers for the 1st time. Methods: The research was carried out between March 2020 and March 2021. A qualitative approach using individual interviews was applied using an interview guide consisting of semi-structured open-ended questions. Fathers who were 1st-time fathers and whose spouses had vaginal birth were included in the study. Results: A total of 12 fathers were included in the study. The interview form was analyzed through qualitative thematic content analysis. First, a total of 19 codes were designated. Subsequently, these codes were combined and categorized into four main themes and 15 sub-themes. The analysis brought four main themes into being: (1) Emotional reactions, (2) childbirth experience, (3) expectations, and (4) recommendations for prospective fathers. Prospective fathers were experiencing the emotions such as excitement, happiness, and uneasiness simultaneously. It was found that the fathers who were not allowed to accompany their spouses during childbirth were disappointed. Conclusion: Fathers reported that during childbirth, they expected to get attention from health professionals and be informed about the childbirth process by the health professionals. Thus, it can be recommended that the health professionals not be solely focused on the incident of childbirth but also address the pregnant woman as a whole with her environment and take the fathers' needs into consideration in this process.