| Summary: | This was a qualitative study employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
(IPA) to capture the lived experiences and sense-making of seven male
participants (aged 29–41), whose partner was in their second or third trimester
of pregnancy. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and four
superordinate themes emerged during the analysis: (1) Pushed and Pulled in
Different Directions, (2) A Rollercoaster of Emotions, (3) A Long and Lonely Road
and (4) Anticipating Fatherhood. The prenatal period seemed to constitute a
turbulent time in the participants’ lives and involved them experiencing intense,
conflicting emotions and psychological states amidst a shifting sense of self,
with few support resources available to them. Implications for counselling
psychologists are discussed, with suggestions for future research made.
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