The experiences of husbands of primiparas with depressive or anxiety disorders during the perinatal period

•Husbands of women with a mental illness were concerned about the impact of pregnancy.•The husband's burden depended on his wife's mental status during the perinatal period.•The preciousness of the baby offset the husband's new burden.•Husbands had dealt with their wives' mental symptoms on their own for many years.•Many types of healthcare providers are needed to provide continuous support to couples.

ObjectivesDuring the perinatal period, husbands take the key role as essential supporter of wives with mental illness. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of husbands of primiparas with depressive or anxiety disorders.MethodsA qualitative descriptive design was used in the study. In-depth interviews were held one to two months after childbirth and results were analyzed using a constant comparative method.ResultsWe approached ten couples and seven husbands agreed to be interviewed. From interviews, four categories emerged. They are “Husband is committed to decision making by exploring the impact of pregnancy”, “The husband's burden depends on his wife's mental status and the relationship between her parents”, “The preciousness of baby offsets the new burden,” and “Continuous process of trial and error dealing with wife's mental status”.ConclusionsFor many years prior to pregnancy, husbands had been alone in trying to help their wives through trial and error. After childbirth they accepted the new child-centered lifestyle and supported their wives' mental health. Healthcare providers are needed to become advisors not only to pregnant women but also to their husbands and build a stable support system with members such as psychiatrists, obstetricians and midwives.