What Is My Role? A Qualitative Study of Labor, Birth, and Postpartum Experiences of Partners.

Of 46 partners approached, 31 participated. The study used purposive sampling in a single hospital setting, so it cannot show how common these experiences are. Most partners were Spanish-born, employed, highly educated and male, with only one female partner, so it may not represent other family configurations. Only vaginal births were included; caesarean births, twin pregnancies, serious maternal or newborn conditions, and births attended by recruiting researchers were excluded. The findings are partners' reports, not tested effects on birth outcomes or care quality. The lead investigator was a midwife, which may shape interpretation, although reflexivity and team discussions were used.

The study received a midwifery research award from the Spanish Federation of Midwifery Associations and Mustela Foundation. The funder was not involved in conceptualisation, data collection and analysis, publication decision, or manuscript preparation. Open access funding was provided by the University of the Basque Country. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Do not read these themes as proof that partner involvement improves birth or postnatal outcomes. The study asked 31 partners about their experiences after vaginal births and did not test an intervention or measure clinical results.