Fathers' motives for birth attendance

Thirty-seven couples expecting their first child served as subjects in an open-ended interview and questionnaire study concerning fathers' motives for birth attendance. Both interview and questionnaire data confirm the fact that motives, beliefs, and expectations concerning paternal participation in labor and delivery are widely distributed across a variety of social contexts. Results indicate that fathers have multiple motives for and expectations about birth attendance. Implications for childbirth educators, health care providers, and parent support leaders are discussed.