Father-staff relationships in a neonatal unit: being judged and judging

Providing effective care and support for parents in neonatal units requires an understanding of the factors that contribute to the diversity of individual experience and how people respond to these stressful life events. Little is known about how health professionals and fathers interact in these situations and how this affects a father’s overall experience. This article discusses findings from a study exploring the experiences of fathers following preterm birth and highlights some of the challenges for fathers whose behaviour is being judged while they simultaneously adjudicate on others.