Abstract

Introduction: Having an infant hospitalized in a neonatal care unit is a complex experience for mothers and fathers. There is evidence of the differences in which most parents experience the fact of having a hospitalized premature baby and how both need differentiated interventions to better deal with this period. Objective: To know through the narratives of fathers how they construct their parental role during the hospitalization of their premature newborn and how it can be influenced by both external and internal factors of the subject. Method: For this study, a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological approach was used. In-depth interviews were carried out with 14 fathers whose babies were hospitalized in a neonatal care unit, and then a thematic analysis was carried out. Results: Four main categories emerged from the interviews: "Being a father in a neonatal unit", "Building the father role", "Parenting and work" and "Experiences that impact your life". Conclusions: Fathers' narratives contributed to the understanding of their experiences in this context, and it was possible to perceive how their ideas and beliefs were confronted with the reality of a premature ending, which marked the construction and definition of their role. This information could be useful for occupational therapists and health professionals working in this area.