Fathers Should Also Be Present At Birth

Fathers have an important role in the birth of their children and should definitely be present throughout the process.

The father is the other half who completes the unit. He provides significant support to the new mother, and he will be able to receive and take care of his little child with enormous happiness.

Even today, the word “childbirth” still has an almost exclusively female association.

Previously, when women gave birth, they were only in the company of other women. Some of them midwives and others were women who were almost as skilled in the necessary tasks. They knew what needed to be done, how to react and how to read the new mother.

It was common for the father to stay behind closed doors, listen, suffer and wait.

But nowadays fathers have a more active role in the delivery room, if conditions allow. In fact, their presence is something that the WHO establishes as a fundamental part of a respected birth.

If the father is not in the delivery room, the mother is exposed to more stress

Birth is not a ritual where the presence of the father is not needed.

Giving birth to a child is a natural act and therefore it is important that the other main character is present. He is not allowed to give birth himself, but he also suffers and he also feels the tension.

If there is one thing we all know , it is that not all mothers clearly remember their birth or have particularly good memories of it.

The reason for this lack of memory is the following:

• The process has been dehumanized: it is for many instruments and machines.
• They suffer from the separation from the newborn baby if it arrives in the world by caesarean section.

• Moments that encourage early attachment through skin contact can not always be enjoyed.
• They do not remember much due to medication or complications during childbirth.
• They do not feel the father’s closeness during the birth and sometimes they feel lonely and scared.

Among all these factors, the most common experience is that mothers get the feeling of separation from the child and that they do not have their partner nearby.

The absence of a father in the delivery room can exponentially increase the stress a mother feels.

The role of a father during pregnancy, childbirth and the first days

Sometimes we neglect the important role a father has during pregnancy, childbirth and the first days of the baby’s life. We pay almost all attention to the mother and the child.

However, fathers must also engage in several areas of responsibility at the same time, so that the conditions are optimal to make the experience easier and more magical.

Let’s analyze the subject a little deeper.

The role of the father during pregnancy

A father provides daily support to the pregnant woman. He is also her accomplice. Her other half with whom the mother plans, dreams and comes to a decision about the birth and how they should raise their child.

We must also not forget the importance of emotional stability, which is necessary for both the health of the mother and the fetus.

If the father helps his partner to cope with stress and shows her love, tenderness and continuous support, he will not only help to strengthen the relationship but also to a happier pregnancy.

• It is also recommended that fathers participate in the preparation classes for childbirth. It can be an exceptional way to help them gain a deeper understanding of the process and show them how they can be the necessary help a mother needs.

At birth

Dads usually take care of all the logistics. They organize, implement, give instructions, have the phone in one hand and use their 10 extra arms to carry all the mother’s belongings.

Dads can also help the mother during the enlargement phase by participating in her breathing exercises.

Dads can be a present support and a familiar face that conveys confidence in the mother: “He is here, everything will go well.”

• The presence of a father at the birth helps the expectant mother to experience less stress. It also gives her a sense of security.
• Another responsibility that fathers have is to try to respect the integrity of the newborn and the mother after birth. He is the one who keeps track of relatives and who conveys the need for peace and integrity.

The father after the birth

When the mother comes home after the birth, she needs help in many different ways: emotionally, practically, physically and logistically.

The father is always there, through the whole process, in the moment, the mind and the heart. He is a part of the new life and will be there for the new mother when she needs him the most.