Primary Category	Secondary Category	Tertiary Category	Units (%)
Difficulties during early engagement with child	Fear/confusion concerning first-time childcare skills	Confusion with first-time childcare skills	26	(21.3)
		Feelings of fear due to lack of experience	14
		Anxiety from not knowing how to interact with child	7
	Need time for the reality of being a father to sink in	Reality of being a father hasn’t sunk in by birth	7
	Need time for the reality of being a father to sink in	Reality hasn’t sunk in for several days after birth	3
Difficulties related to child crying	Distress from child crying	Confusion from child crying	13	(20.9)
		Agitation from child crying	6
		Sense of powerlessness from child crying	4
		Sense of uncertainty from child crying	6
		Frustration from child crying	7
		Sense of resentment from child crying	3
	Dealing with crying through trial and error	Dealing with crying through trial and error	11
	Dealing with crying through trial and error	Dealing with crying as a couple through trial and error	6
Difficulties arising after getting through the early engagement stage	Sense of distance until the infant’s response to father can be understood	Deepening of affection from understanding reactions	12	(10.1)
	Concern about illness, injury, and accidents	Concern about accidents and injuries	4
	Concern about illness, injury, and accidents	Confusion about illness	2
	Concern associated with growth/ development	Realizing the difficulty of taking care of child as it grows	2
		Concern about future injuries, accidents, or disease	5
		Anxiety about growth/development	2
Difficulties related to support of partner	Consideration toward partner during pregnancy and after childbirth	Supporting partner before pregnancy	2	(29.9)
		Consideration toward partner during pregnancy	18
		Consideration toward partner after childbirth	18
		Thoughtful communication	8
		Concern for partner’s mental health	11
	Marital difficulties	Pressure from partner	13
	Marital difficulties	Conflict with partner	10
Mental burdens associated with childrearing	Exhaustion/Sleep deprivation after birth	Exhaustion after child is born	8	(17.9)
	Exhaustion/Sleep deprivation after birth	Sleep deprivation after child is born	4
	Various stressors	Lack of personal time	5
		Stress from lifestyle	11
		Need to release stress	13
		Unease or constraint related to partner’s family	4
		Pressure from workplace	3