Partners experiences of caesarean deliveries in the operating room

Objective: To describe the experiences of partners accompanying pregnant women during a caesarean section and to identify factors which influence the experiences.

Methods: It is a prospective, single-center, observational study which included all partners of women who underwent a planned or an unplanned caesarean section in a maternity hospital during a two months period (1st November 2020 - 1st January 2021). The outcome was evaluated by a standardized questionnaire: the first-time father questionnaire (FTFQ) (1). Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to evaluate the factors associated with the results of the FTFQ.

Results: A total of 100 partners were included in the study. Partners were generally satisfied with their attendance at the caesarean section, with 91 % claiming a good experience of it and expressed a willingness to repeat the experience. The partners were satisfied with the support provided by the medical team and with their accompaniment (79 %). Most partners were reassured and guided by health professionals when necessary (61 %). Nevertheless, partner anxiety was common (50 %) throughout the procedure. Only one factor was significantly associated with a decreased partner satisfaction: transfer of the newborn to the intensive care or neonatology unit (p = 0.04).

Conclusion: Almost all partners were satisfied to be in the operating room for a cesarean section regardless of the type of caesarean (planned and unplanned). Partner satisfaction should be considered by maternity staff as a relevant factor in their decision to accept or refuse the partner's presence in the operating room during the cesarean section.