Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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A Tale of Fifteen Men: male partner experiences of adverse
prenatal diagnosis
Dr Joan Lalor. PhD, MSc, RGN/RCN, RM, RNT, PGDip CHSE,
PGDipStats.
Lecturer in Midwifery
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Trinity College Dublin
24 D’Olier Street,
Dublin 2.
Tel: + 353 (01) 8964018
Mob: + 087 6549012
Email: j.lalor@tcd.ie
Prof. Cecily M. Begley,
Chair of Nursing and Midwifery/Director, School of Nursing and
Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin,
24, D'Olier St.
Dublin 2
Tel: 353 1 8962693/3979
Fax: 353 1 896 3001
Email: cbegley@tcd.ie
Background: Research into men’s experience of pregnancy
suggests that men play a supportive rather than a participatory role
in the birth of their children. It has been suggested that ultrasound
has provided men with an opportunity to move from the periphery
as fetal imaging allows them to form an image of their unborn child.
However the experiences of men whose partner receives a positive
prenatal diagnosis at a routine ultrasound examination have been
less well-studied.
Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the emotional effects of
prenatal diagnosis on men, by reference to the actual experience of
a small sample of men during and after their partner’s diagnosis.
Methodology: Fifteen men in Ireland participated in 21 in-depth
interviews before and after the birth. Fourteen couples choose to
continue the pregnancy and one couple accessed termination of
pregnancy services outside the state. Data were analysed using
thematic analysis. Ethical approval was granted from the university
and clinical site, and the usual tenets of written informed consent
were obtained.
Findings: Several potentially conflicting male roles were identified.
Men frequently spoke of their concern for their partner’s wellbeing
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