BACKGROUND:
The World Health Organization encourages the continuous presence of a chosen companion during childbirth, yet partner access to the operating theatre for elective caesarean section (CS) remains uneven and its relational impact is under-explored.

OBJECTIVES:
To investigate maternal and paternal experiences related to the father’s presence during elective CS.

METHODS:
A monocentric phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome (February–March 2025). Twenty couples undergoing planned CS took part in semi-structured interviews 48–72 h postpartum. Transcripts were analysed reflexively; rigour was ensured through dual coding, member checking and an audit trail.

RESULTS:
Five inter-related themes emerged: Maternal experience: Partner presence was described as emotionally reassuring and protective. Some mothers voiced concern over their partner’s emotional response, helped strengthen their bond as a couple and as new parents. Absence, though sometimes rationalized, often leads to hidden feelings of disappointment and loneliness. Paternal experience: Fathers reported deep emotional involvement and a desire to actively support their partner. Initial anxiety was alleviated through physical closeness. In cases of exclusion, the waiting period was experienced ambivalently, as both protective and alienating. Comparison with previous births: Couples with prior CSs—particularly emergencies or during COVID-19—reported improved experiences with partner inclusion and enhanced communication. Partner influence: The father’s presence was seen as essential to emotional well-being and couple cohesion. Absence was often perceived as a significant emotional loss. Cesarean expectations: Some areas for improvement included limited preoperative communication, insufficient emotional preparation, and challenging transitions to the ward after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS:
Partner inclusion during CS fosters emotional security, strengthens the couple's bond, and can transform the surgical event into a shared, meaningful experience. Findings support the need for inclusive, structured protocols and better communication in cesarean care.

KEY MESSAGE:
Welcoming fathers into the operating room turns elective caesarean into a shared, meaningful experience that benefits mothers, partners and newborns. Poster session 2 (Group A)