Make sure he eats, but make sure he goes away to eat.
I wasn't allowed to eat from when they started my drip, not sure if it's the same for women in non-induced labour, but I told OH to go and get something to eat. He said he'd bring something back to the room, and I just growled 'No'. He went away, ate and then came back and told me what a lovely meal he had.
I nearly hurled the drip stand at his head
- Tell him what you want re: pain relief, but make sure that he knows that if you change your mind, you've changed your mind, and he shouldn't talk you out of it. Reminding you of your earlier choice is fine - trying to stop you is not.
- OH had to hold the gas and air for me due to the faff of getting the drip in meaning I had an incredibly painful cannula in one hand, and a just-flushed blood clot in the other, so he had to hold the gas and air. Make sure he knows that if he takes it away, even for a second, it's on fear of death everyone assumed I was about 5cm six hours after the drip went in.. I was waiting for them to tell me I was 5 or 6cm so I could ask for epidural... they checked me and I was 10cm, so when I was pushing with no epidural and syntocin contractions, the gas and air was my lifeline
Discuss your feelings about different things beforehand - not just the big stuff like cutting the cord, but also whether you want him to watch DC being born, or stay up at the head end. I've got to say, OH watched DD being born and says it was incredible. But it's things that you need to discuss beforehand, to avoid confusion or distress in the labour room :)