Not allowing Dads in the delivery room?

[Chulita]

The BBC was just talking to a man who was saying that men get in the way and that if we just got all the men out of the delivery room, labour would be easier and simpler. Can't find a link but grr! I wouldn't want to have had DD without DH around, if they banned him I'd have the baby at home!

Aside from all the reasons given here, I am so glad dh was in with me both times - as a result he has massive respect for what I went through. He didn't dare pester me for sex straight afterwards, since he'd seen the mess I'd been!

I don't think he would have believed me if I'd had to describe it to him later, particularly as the women in his family seem to have rather smoother deliveries than I have had.

The key is simple- no man should be forced into the delivery room, and likewise no man prevented from being there if his partner wishes it. It's a ridiculous thing to prescribe rules for.

I ahd DH there at all of mine; indeed I don't think I would have had another if I hadn't had DH there with ds1 (I have 4 as it happens). He freed up he MW by keeping me company in long labours, helped with bathing me afterwards and stood up for me when things went badly awry.

For my last birth, the second MW didnt make it in time (HB) and hebhelped a lot with fetching and setting up G&A, MWtook him aside afterwards and said he had been a trremendous help to her (poor lass arrived when I was in transition so not much time to settle in LOL).

I also ahd A doula who was worth ehr weight for different reasons, and who woudl have been badly needed as DH had to look after the boys if I went in to hospital but it was DH whom I needed.

My husband was out of this world in both of my labours one sadly a late miscarriage. I have a medical history so have to have monitored labours in HDU meaning stuck to a bed and not able to get up walk around etc and get through it just on gas and air or have the choice of a water birth. He kept me sane and going both times especially as I was too out of it to know what was going on at some points.....I know he found seeing my DD2 born at 21 weeks incredibly hard but it had been a very traumatic time due to huge blood loss and hypovolemic shock but I think because we shared the experience we were able to deal with it together better in the aftermath.

With DD1 he cut her cord and felt very privileged that he had been able to do so, he would never have had the chance had he not have been there.

I would always want him there and I know he wouldn't miss the birth of his children for the world!