HLSC122 Evidence for Practice

Introduction

Many children are being born with approximately three hundred children being born globally in every given minute. Parents, especially those who are giving birth for the first time experience mixed feelings during child-birth. Similarly, fathers who live with an expectant wife during pregnancy and have not experienced the birth of their own children require to be incorporated in the process. These men require to be engaged so that they can have the know-how to bond and care for the wife and children in an appropriate manner. The study will outline the experience of first-time fathers to childbirth, the hindrances, and interventions that can make it possible in the Netherland.

Identifying The Clinical Problem

First-time fathers lack information about their roles after a child is born as they are anxious concerning the uncertain situation they are about to experience. They tend to shift all the attention to their wives and the child that has been born neglecting their personal care. There should be national structural guidelines that health professionals should use to guide first-time fathers to fit in their new situations. Thus, the fathers will be in good health to provide care for the mother and child. Such fathers require deep insights to cope with child-birth from an informed point of view. Mid-wives should find means of helping these fathers to deal with their emotions related to their first experience with a newborn child (Ledenfors and Bertero, 2016). Adequate guidance will provide both parents with a positive attitude concerning childbirth experiences, which occur through pregnancy, labor, delivery, and family beginning as connoted by Sansiriphun, et al., 2015. Parents' emotions and feelings are addressed to help them progress with their lives despite experiencing new situations brought by childbirth.

Research Question and Justification

The study is guided by the following research questions;

'What are the reported experiences and needs of first-time fathers during childbirth?'

The question was valid and appropriate for the study design. Few studies have been conducted concerning fathers' experiences as compared to those about mothers during childbirth and it sought to provide information about it. It guided the types of the population that was to be studied which included first-time fathers. The interventions were outlines in line with the research question that was guiding the study. Also, the question helped to arrive at the desired conclusion, resulting in informed and well-discussed outcomes.  Several people gave their experiences, their worries, and the anxiety they felt during the birth of their first child (Hildingsson et al., 2013)

Critical Appraisal

The study was focused on the research question it was attempting to address. The question defined the population that was under consideration, identified intervention measures to arrive at the outcomes. It was realized that they experienced anxiety, insecurity, and inadequate knowledge concerning childbirth. First-time fathers were analyzed with their experience with newborn babies. The method of randomization was appropriate as it identified the role and experiences of men who were becoming fathers for the first time. It eliminated bias as only first-time fathers were considered through getting primary information from them. Participants who were entered for the study were counted after randomization. Participants were analyzed to generate reliable information concerning the topic under study. The study ran smoothly from the beginning to the end, in line with the research question.

Participants were not blind to the interventions which were given. They explained the challenges they experienced while living with the expectant wives during pregnancy. They could see their wives with labour pains without knowing how they could be of help. Upon childbirth, they were unaware of their responsibility with interaction with the child born (Eggermont et al., 2017). First-time fathers needed knowledge and skills to overcome this challenge (Schytt & Bergström, 2014). Interventions given by investigators were guided by the literature and primary data as this made them not to be blind in the process. They were objective with the interventions they gave to participants. Those who were analyzing people and outcomes were not blinded as they intended to provide information that is not biased.

The group that was studied was similar all through the study. A similar study group helped to avoid bias and vagueness of the study. Thus, the outcome could not be affected by the group that was being randomized in the study design. The study group received equal treatment all through the study. Most of the participants under study were experiencing related challenges and they were given similar intervention measures. The follow-up interval was similar for the study group. Power calculation was undertaken which indicated that first-time fathers experienced anxiety, insecurity, and inadequate knowledge during childbirth (Howarth et al., 2017). Relative outcomes were expressed, results reported for each outcome and there was no incomplete data. However, confidence intervals were not reported during this study. Although the cost-effective analysis was not done for the study, the benefits of the intervention measures outweigh the harms associated with it.   

Application Of Evidence In The Clinical Area

The outcomes of this study apply to my area of practice as they deal with nursing duties. Men should be guided on how to take care of themselves for the sake of the child and the mother. The guidance will provide men, especially first-time fathers with knowledge by involving them in decision making. When first-time mothers are guided leaving their husbands out of the process, it will be challenging for women to implement skills acquired without their husband's support. The outcome of the study is important to my population as there will be combined efforts of childbirth and upbringing from a point of understanding. All necessary information concerning the outcome has been reported in this study. The limitation of this study includes how first-time fathers should be integrated into prenatal care for their wives (Pålsson et al., 2019). It will be challenging to identify ways of preparing and involving them during the prenatal care given to their wives. Many men are unwilling to accompany their wives to the clinics due to the stigma associated with it in different parts of the world (Chan & Paterson-Brown, 2002).

Experimental interventions will provide greater value to the people in my care than in any of the existing interventions. Adequate time should be allocated to bring fathers on board as prenatal and antenatal care is provided for their wives. First-time fathers should be guided on ways they can be effective in taking off the entire family. Childbirth brings fear of the unknown which healthcare providers should seek to provide on first-time parents. Sufficient funds should be allocated as well to see the effectiveness of this program. Reading materials can be shared to visiting expectant women to take to their husbands to impact them on their roles and responsibilities during pregnancy, birth, and after birth. Professional medical personnel should be equipped with relevant skills through training concerning this issue. They should be taught how to include both child's mother and father in the process of childbirth, especially if they doing it for the first time. I am now ready to reinvest in engaging first-time fathers in antenatal care that I do provide for my clients at the health center.

Conclusion

Based on the high numbers of childbirths that occur every day, it is important to guide parents. It is important to include fathers to be as well, especially first-time fathers. Their inclusion will enhance addressing insecurity, anxiety, and inadequate information that is associated with the first-time experience. It is significant to introduce interventions that will ensure that first-time fathers are guided on what is expected from them, as given by their new roles. Medical professionals should realize the importance of engaging both parents in childbirth and upbringing to make the child lead a quality life. Identifying the needs of first-time fathers will enhance effectiveness and efficiency in this process.

References

Chan, K. K. L., & Paterson-Brown, S. (2002). How do fathers feel after accompanying their partners in labour and delivery? Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 22(1), 11–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443610120101628

Eggermont, K., Beeckman, D., Van Hecke, A., Delbaere, I., & Verhaeghe, S. (2017). Needs of fathers during labour and childbirth: A cross-sectional study. Women and Birth, 30(4), e188–e197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2016.12.001

Hildingsson, I., Johansson, M., Karlström, A., & Fenwick, J. (2013). Factors Associated With a Positive Birth Experience: An Exploration of Swedish Women’s Experiences. International Journal of Childbirth, 3(3), 153–164. https://doi.org/10.1891/2156-5287.3.3.153

Howarth, A. M., Scott, K. M., & Swain, N. R. (2017). First-time fathers’ perception of their childbirth experiences. Journal of Health Psychology, 135910531668762. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316687628

Ledenfors, A., & Berterö, C. (2016). First-time fathers’ experiences of normal childbirth. Midwifery, 40, 26–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2016.05.013

Pålsson, P., Kvist, L. J., Persson, E. K., Kristensson Hallström, I., & Ekelin, M. (2019). A survey of contemporary antenatal parental education in Sweden: What is offered to expectant parents and midwives’ experiences. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 20, 13–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2019.01.003

Sansiriphun, N., Kantaruksa, K., Klunklin, A., Baosuang, C., & Liamtrirat, S. (2015). The journey into fatherhood: A grounded theory study. Nursing & Health Sciences, 17(4), 460–466. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12216

Schytt, E., & Bergström, M. (2014). First-time fathers’ expectations and experiences of childbirth in relation to age. Midwifery, 30(1), 82–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2013.01.015

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