Findings: antenatal expectations and postnatal memory of the childbirth experience varied by paternal age. In mid-pregnancy, mixed or negative feelings about the upcoming birth were more prevalent in men of advanced age (29%) compared with men of average (26%) and young (18%) age (po0.01), and they feared the event more than the youngest (mean on the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire:advanced age 43.3; average age 42.9; young 38.7; po0.01). The older men also assessed their partner’s labour and birth as more difficult (advanced age 43%; average age 41%; young 32%; p=0.05) and had a less positive overall birth experience (advanced age 30%; average age 36%; young 43%; po0.05).However, older fathers were more satisfied with care given during the intrapartum period: 52% were overall satisfied compared with 46% of the men of average age and 39% of young age (p=0.03).
Key conclusions: men of advanced age had more fearful and negative expectations during their partner’s pregnancies and postnatally assessed the births as less positive and more difficult than younger men did. Despite this, older men were more satisfied with
intrapartum care.