Abstract / Summary
Abstract Problem: What are the genuine emotional experiences of fathers during early skin-to-skin contact with their babies following a caesarean section? How does this influence the development of the father’s role, and what practical obstacles are currently encountered in promoting this practice? Background During a caesarean section, fathers typically play the role of passive observers, resulting in parents missing the crucial ‘golden hour’ for establishing an early emotional bond with their newborn. Based on interviews exploring fathers’ emotional experiences of participating in skin-to-skin contact within the first hour following a caesarean section, this study provides recommendations and a reference framework to support the development of newborns. Purpose This describes early skin-to-skin contact between father and baby following a caesarean section, taking place within one hour of delivery, and the father’s experiences and feelings regarding this early bonding with his newborn. Methods This study utilised brief immediate‑experience semi‑structured interviews and was conducted at Hainan Modern Women’s and Children’s Hospital between April and August 2026. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling strategy, and a total of 30 participants (n = 30) were included in the study. Results The data revealed three key themes: the multiple benefits of early father-infant skin-to-skin contact, the emergence of the father’s role, and the lack of support for clinical implementation. Early skin-to-skin contact helps to rapidly establish the parent-child bond, soothe the newborn’s emotions, and alleviate the concerns of mothers and family members. This contact catalyses the emergence of the father’s role, including the establishment of parent-child attachment, the transition to fatherhood, the activation of protective instincts, and an increase in confidence in parenting. Furthermore, a range of obstacles—including environmental constraints, staff shortages and inadequate standardised procedures—result in insufficient support for the implementation of father-led early skin-to-skin contact. Conclusion This study sheds light on fathers’ emotional experiences during early skin-to-skin contact between father and infant following a caesarean section. It provides an empirical basis for developing a family-centred model of perinatal care for caesarean sections, helping to foster father-infant attachment, promote fathers’ involvement in their parenting roles, and address the challenges associated with the promotion of early skin-to-skin contact.