Support in the shadows: findings from a qualitative study exploring fathers’ and non-birthing partners’ perceptions and experiences of support during a termination for medical reasons

Background: Termination for medical reasons (TFMR) is an essential aspect of reproductive healthcare. While physical and emotional care of the birthing parent is central within healthcare systems, less is known about the experiences and support needs of non-birthing partners during this process. Objective: To explore fathers’ and non-birthing partners’ perceptions and experiences of support (covering clinical, psychological, and social support) during a TFMR. Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Setting and Participants: Ten fathers/non-birthing partners who had experienced TFMR in the last 7 years, identified via social media or snowball sampling, were interviewed. Analysis: Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis and a mixture of semantic and latent coding of the data. Results: An overarching theme of Support in the shadows was identified, capturing how non-birthing partners were consistently present but rarely the focus of explicit or sustained care or support. Three themes were developed under the main theme of support in the shadows: (a) Feeling invisible, (b) seeking whole-person support and (c) partners as a support rather than being supported. Discussion: In common with other forms of pregnancy loss, fathers/non-birthing partners described a pattern of silent responsibility, emotional invisibility and a lack of meaningful recognition of their needs. When care was individualised and specific to non-birthing partners, it was experienced as supportive. Conclusions: The support that fathers/non-birthing partners experienced during TFMR was largely incidental rather than embedded. Partners desired care and support that was deliberate, inclusive and individualised and covered clinical, psychological and social aspects. Patient or Public Contribution: A parent with lived experience of TFMR was involved in the study conception and methodology. The lived experience parent advised on study design and the presentation of participant information. Parents who had lived experience of TFMR in the last 7 years were interviewed for the study as participants.