Background
Aim
Methods
Setting
N = 9 | |
---|---|
Paternal age - Mean (SD) | 35.2 (25–45) |
Paternal origin (N) | |
Europe | 1 |
Middle East | 3 |
Africa | 4 |
Asia | 1 |
Residence in Sweden (years) – Mean (SD) | 8.9 (6–22) |
Years of education (years) | |
< 12 | 0 |
≥ 12 | 9 |
Employment | |
Employed | 7 |
Unemployed | 2 |
Data collection
Analysis
Results
Everyday life conditions
The family was a priority for the interviewees, who noted a strong feeling of responsibility, a wish to provide for the family and a desire to create stability. Some fathers had stable work; those unemployed were active jobseekers. Both unemployment and hard work could cause stress.-You cannot get involved with the criminals... you just need to... do your shopping, keep on living, pass by them... and not at all hang out in the center… (Father G)
The housing situation was a challenge, short-term contracts were common and the housing market in Stockholm was seen as catastrophic. A long wait for housing could result in short rental contracts, which meant that families kept on moving. A wish to find more suitable housing in a better neighborhood was generally expressed.... I work a lot, too much... I have two different jobs... at the moment I am taking leave from one of them… to be able to keep on… I am standing up all the time, sometimes more than 12-13 hours... (Father D)
Both their own health and the health of the whole family were important for these fathers. Health was linked to experiences of being an active father and meeting the family’s needs. Interviewed fathers described their health generally as good, and some of them experienced even better health after becoming a father. Tiredness was caused by lack of sleep; stress was caused by work and various tasks at home, and was increased by housing and finances.... The mother didn’t think to send our child to the preschool, because she is still so young. But I told her “no”, here in Sweden, they are going to learn… the mother cannot teach her at home, not like in the preschool… so the mother said “OK”. (Father D)
...even if you have the family in Sweden, they do not have time to come and visit... and even if they come... they come two times a year... it is not that much. (Father B)
Adjustment to fatherhood in Sweden
To care for the newborn baby could be difficult for both parents, as they often knew very little about children. The reality was different from written information. Over time it became easier to change diapers and clothes, to feed and bathe the child. Visiting grandparents could be helpful during the first period:... There are different feelings, you cannot explain what you are feeling exactly, but it feels very good... (Father C)
Breastfeeding was seen as a necessity by fathers, a natural way of feeding and calming down the newborn baby. Problems in breastfeeding could create stress for both parents. The early phases of parenthood also meant tiredness; lack of sleep declined as the child grew older.…my parents were here in Sweden for a while so they helped us… I think we managed; we coped with that… so I do not see any worries… (Father I)
The early postnatal period at home could be hard, and fathers thought that this experience was the worst for first-time parents. Becoming a parent was seen as a process of education, the possible second child would be easier.-The feeling of responsibility, yes, it is very hard for me... I have never needed to take responsibility for others. It was never my thing; if someone was sick, I wanted go from there... so I was afraid of that... but now there is a big difference with the child, a huge difference… (Father C)
Fathers expressed a wish for practical support from their relatives in everyday life, for example, by leaving and picking up children from preschool, offering babysitting and helping with other such tasks.-We do not have relatives here...Skype and Viber... that means some hours every evening, one and half hours… it is important, especially with both grandmothers and… they want to see her (the child), she is the first grandchild in the whole family… everyone wants to see her all the time… they want to hear and see how she is growing and… it is exciting. (Father G)
Fathers expressed that having a child could improve their quality of life and being a father provided them with a different kind of joy. To have a child was also described as one of the greatest moments in their life and despite challenges, fathers did not express any major difficulties. The continuous development was described as one of the nicest things in fatherhood. Fathers described their children positively as they gave life at home, sought fathers’ attention and contact, and were playing together.... Especially for my wife, she could get more help, knowledge from her mother or from my mother and people around us... (Father E)
Other descriptions noted that two became three and the relationship was unchanged since the birth of the child.-It is a huge jump; it is not something bad but something new. You cannot say that it is exactly bad. We were arguing a lot as we were tired and so... it is quite common, I think, something that everyone is passing through... (Father C)
Channels of support
Making more information and knowledge related to child care available in languages other than Swedish, were suggested as possible offerings that could be provided by CHCC and the society....you can know it in your head, but in the reality, it is difficult... I see other parents, my friends, but... when you are the parent, for the first time, it is not easy... (Father F)
The Swedish health care advisory call number (1177), maternity ward and Internet added some information of baby care. The different channels of knowledge could be confusing. To get assured about the acquired information, the reliability of advice was double-check with other sources, among them Internet. Education was thought to reduce confusion concerning conflicting advice.... I wished sometimes in the beginning... that I had my sister (who is midwife) here...she could help.... she (my wife) had it hard in the beginning… (Father G)
Fathers listened to and compared different advice and made their own conclusions. Health care professionals were consulted to reduce anxiety. Sometimes the emergency ward was visited.…the confusion is coming when you don’t have education… when you have education, no confusion… (Father H)
Fathers said in interviews that the waiting time for seeing a doctor at the emergency department could be long, which made them delay and see if that care was truly necessary.We like the hospital, so we go there quite often... it could be whatever... the first child, we were afraid… (Father C)
Home visits helped parents to gain confidence, and the CHC nurse and the parental advisor were perceived as caring.I think it is a must, it is very good for the parents... many times they do not know anything about how to take care of a child... with the second child... you have got little experience from the first child… (Father A)
Two of the interviewed fathers perceived that during the home visits parents were asked quite a number of questions by the parental advisors and the CHC nurses. These fathers did their best to answer the questions addressed to them.... We got very good advice, especially when he is growing up, behaviors and so, general questions that we got answered, we got it quite a lot... good advice how you can do certain things... (Father C)