THROUGH THE EYES OF A NEW DAD: EXPERIENCES OF FIRST-TIME FATHERS OF LATE-PRETERM INFANTS

Fathers of late-preterm (34-36 weeks' gestation) infants may experience challenges in parenting. Late-preterm infants are more irritable and less responsive in interactions. The unexpected early birth of an infant may negatively affect fathers' cognitive and emotional experiences. The Father-Infant Interaction Program (FIIP) is a video-modeled play intervention that aims to increase fathers' sensitivity and responsiveness to infant cues. Using data from a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate FIIP, the purpose of the present study was to explore the experiences of first-time fathers of late-preterm infants and their perceptions of the intervention. We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 85 fathers of 8-month-old infants during the outcome home visit for the RCT and thematically analyzed data. Three main themes about fathers' experiences emerged: Fathers believed they had the best job in the world, yet saw fathering as the biggest job ever. Fathers viewed fatherhood as an opportunity for personal growth and reflected on how their lives had changed since the arrival of their infant. Fathers in the intervention and comparison groups liked the convenience of the home visits and validation of their role as a father. Fathers in the intervention group liked the tailored feedback about play.