Men, Masculinity and Early Labour 

Project Duration

November 2014 - May 2016 

Funder

British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust 

Funding

£7,092

Aims

• To explore men's experiences of being with their partner during early labour
• To extend knowledge about early labour in social and relationship contexts
• To introduce the concept of early labour to the sociology of childbirth, and further sociological thinking about fathers and birth
• To produce sociological insights that have potential to influence current thinking about this men and early labour within health sciences, maternity care and policy

Methods

Analysis of representations of men in pregnancy guides, policy documents and other key texts.

Focus groups and interviews with fathers.

Stage of Development

I am recruiting participants for focus groups and interviews.

I would like to talk to fathers about their experiences of being with their partner in the first few hours of her labour. I would love to hear from you if:

• your youngest child is three months old or younger
• your baby was born in hospital or in a birth centre
• labour started spontaneously (your partner was not induced)
• you are over 18 years old