Advice for fathers on childbirth...

4 replies

minko · 13/07/2006 11:16

Does anyone know of any good books/ leaflets/ internet sites/ chatrooms for dads to be giving them advice on how to be useful when you're giving birth!?

I am due to have my 2nd in 8 weeks. The first time round I had a 12 hour labour, ventouse and then an emergency caesarian for foetal distress, this time I am trying to go for a VBAC. I am very nervous but would love for it to be a success, but I really feel I'll need more support than DP gave me last time... He had to be told to get up/hold my hand/mop brow etc!

Refresher antenatal classes might help I guess but something he can read would be good too...

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pol26 · 13/07/2006 14:30

Well, no real advice here but if it's any consellation- my DP fell asleep mid my worse contractions and was snoring in the chair!!!

He didn't do anything helpful as such.

When I was throwing up he was joining me moaning that I was making him feel sick - as if I had decided to be ill out of spite, lol...

I think until men actually have babies they will never be as good a support as another woman who has been through it all.

fruitful · 13/07/2006 16:19

Get a doula, and send him off to buy chocolate.

The only things I wanted from dh was that
a) he wouldn't faint
b) he'd make sure I knew what sex the baby was before he hot-footed off to call his mother

He managed them both. Flying colours.

nicnack2 · 13/07/2006 16:25

not to ask if you are alright!

to supply you with opal fruits and to understand all non verbal communication.

not to go to the toilet and cigar when the end is insight.

and not to insist that you speak to his mother 15min after giving birth!

Other than that dh was very good

Steppy1 · 13/07/2006 16:25

..there's a great (short" book called preparing for birth - fathers (there's a mothers one too surprise surprise!!!) avalable from Birth international...offers lots of practical advice including a section of V-BACs too....does he want to be with you Minko this time or maybe he's afraid to say that he's a bit scared this time around....I agree with fruitful maybe getting a doula is best ...and let him stay home to look after your first !!!

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