PERCEPÇÕES DOS PAIS SOBRE SUAS VIVÊNCIAS COMO ACOMPANHANTES DURANTE O PARTO E NASCIMENTO FATHERS' PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AS BIRTH COMPANIONS PERCEPCIONES DE LOS PADRES DE SUS EXPERIENCIAS COMO ACOMPAÑANTES DURANTE EL PARTO Y EL NACIMIENTO

4 ABSTRACT This is a qualitative exploratory descriptive research carried out in a public maternity hospital. It aimed at identifying the father's experience of the birthing process of his child. Data was collected in 2013 through interviews with 12 fathers and analysed through thematic analysis, taking into account Brazilian public health policies. The following categories emerged: father's presence: an entitlement and a positive experience; birth as an important expression of resilience; C-section: mechanicalness versus tranquillity; feelings related to labour and birth; staff acknowledgement. For the fathers, being with the child and partner was an experience that strengthened the bond with the child and offered moral support to the wife. Nonetheless, the lack of knowledge about the birthing process creates negative feelings of impotence during labour, which can be overcome by the sharing of knowledge between nurses and fathers. This study increases production of knowledge on the theme, it gives voice to fathers and it subsidizes the planning of the professionals' actions.