I survived my wife's pregnancy : a study exploring the experiences of first time Filipino fathers.

• Main Authors: Alonte, Ria Marie., David, Theodieliza, Puey, Anna Cristina
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2000
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10312
• Institution: De La Salle University

Abstract. The following study was conducted to study the experiences of first time Filipino fathers. Specifically, the researchers wanted to find out: 1) the reactions of the husbands upon hearing about the pregnancy 2) the fears encountered during the pregnancy 3) the problems, changes and adjustments encountered during the pregnancy and after and 4) the fathers' thoughts on parenting. The researchers used purposive sampling and chain referral in gathering the twelve respondents. In-depth interview was utilized as the method and content analysis was employed. The results reveal that first time fathers expressed positive reactions upon knowing about the pregnancy. They experienced fears relating to the health issues of their wife and future baby. The fathers also felt that the biggest difficulty stemmed from the changes in their marital relationship and from dealing with their wives' mood swings. Before the pregnancy, thoughts on parenting centered on it being a new process in life. After the pregnancy, the father saw it as giving them a good experience and making them more prepared for the next child.