Lietuvos šiuolaikinių šeimų, besilaukiančių vaiko, požiūris į kūdikio sutikimo kultūrą ; The attitude of contemporary Lithuanian child-expecting families to wards the culture of meeting a baby

The aim of the research is to reveal the attitude of child-expecting mothers and fathers towards the culture of meeting a baby (birth). 117 respondents (60 women and 57 men) visiting the Mother and Child’s clinic at the Public Institution Šiauliai County Hospital participated in the survey. The generalised results of the research confirm the fact that changes take place in the values, attitudes, traditions, etc. of contemporary Lithuanian families. The research demonstrates that more than half of the women and nearly half of the men understand the importance of a father’s participation in childbirth and plan for his presence during it. The respondents indicated that the main reasons for a father to participate in the birth of a child are psychological (emotional) support to a woman, keeping to the mutual agreement between the spouses, increasing of responsibility of the father, and experiencing of the joy of meeting a new life. The respondents indicated the fear of worsening of the relationship between the spouses as the main reason for the father not to be present in the birth of a child.