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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Husband may faint during birth

62 replies

Chocrabbit · 14/04/2026 17:34

Had first midwife appointment yesterday, husband had to leave the room as he felt faint at the talk of injections. Didn’t make it back to the waiting room before he passed out. Midwife suggested I find an alternative birthing partner. I feel sad as only wanted Hubbie in the room. Only 7 weeks pregnant so got ages, Hubbie wants to get therapy to help. Any similar experiences / do I need another birthing partner?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Corvidsarethebest · 15/04/2026 12:33

I can avert an episode quite well now by using breathing techniques and lots of exposure over the years. My daughter faints so hard that she has hit her head many times. It's quite dangerous to faint suddenly and heavily. It's worth seeing if you can work on this through CBT/therapy over time just so it doesn't spiral into affecting your everyday life (as with all phobias).

JustForGoss · 15/04/2026 12:35

H is way more traumatised by watching me / supporting me through birth (which was hard, with interventions) than I was. I did have a doula and she was great. Would have been better for him if he hadn’t been there and honestly I would have been fine without him. Second time round I was in hospital and he didn’t have time to reach me between me going into labour and actually giving birth so he arrived in time to cuddle newborn: much better. Not sure why we think husbands need to be there throughout anyway TBH.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 15/04/2026 18:12

Watch a few birthing programmes on tv with him to test him

but I wouldn’t have him there I’d take a mum or friend

Kingdomofsleep · 15/04/2026 18:23

I get like that sometimes myself so I don't judge, I know he can't help it.

Nonetheless he will be as useful as a chocolate teapot at your birth. Therapy does not cure this.

Get another birth partner planned

ainsleysanob · 15/04/2026 18:48

JustForGoss · 15/04/2026 12:35

I don’t it’s that we think we ‘need’ them there, for me, I wanted him to be and so did he!

GetOffTheCounter · 15/04/2026 18:53

I am usually quite sensitive about people's fears and foibles.

But not so much in this case. He may not want to be at the birth because of [reasons] but I bet the OP doesn't want to be either. He needs to adult the fuck up.

BlueBoyd · 15/04/2026 18:59

Try the therapy.

I’d suggest hiring a doula. That way your husband can see how he goes and if he needs to leave you’ll have someone with you, but if he's
ok you can ask her to wait outside if you wish. The last thing you want is to be worrying about someone else while you’re in labour.

I would be on team “get a grip” but if actually fainting that’s not something he can control

scoobysnaxx · 15/04/2026 20:05

GetOffTheCounter · 15/04/2026 18:53

I am usually quite sensitive about people's fears and foibles.

But not so much in this case. He may not want to be at the birth because of [reasons] but I bet the OP doesn't want to be either. He needs to adult the fuck up.

The you know noting about phobias at all .

Superscientist · 17/04/2026 12:05

WhatMe123 · 14/04/2026 23:10

This is a phobia, needle phobia or blood phobia and this is the only time anxiety causes fainting.
With anxiety most people get an increase in blood pressure due to faster heart rate due to Adrenalin, this the means it’s actually impossible to faint. People with a needle phobia have the actual opposite, they get a sudden drop in blood pressure due to their blood moving more internally (believed to be a primitive thing to reduce the risk of bleeding, the nearer your blood to the skin surface the more likely you are to bleed out). Cbt is required with applied tension techniques where your husband learns to basically increase his blood pressure at high risk events, injections, seeing blood, hospitals etc.
its not a case of getting a grip it’s a a
phobia that it treatable
https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/needle-phobia-and-overcoming-your-fear

good luck op

It's not the only time anxiety can cause fainting. I faint as part of a panic/anxiety response. My heart rate shoots up but my blood pressure tanks - proven when I fainted during a psychiatric appointment whilst having a difficult conversation with my psychiatrist. I wasn't allowed to stand up /leave until my pulse and blood pressure normalised. He said it's not uncommon, at the time I was experiencing severe anxiety and fainting several times a week. It was only after him observing it that the fainting was attribute to emotional issues and not physical. I had been having a lot of tests to try to identify the cause.

Bringbackbuffy · 17/04/2026 12:56

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 15/04/2026 18:12

Watch a few birthing programmes on tv with him to test him

but I wouldn’t have him there I’d take a mum or friend

Don’t watch them with him though. Steer clear of them until you’ve delivered your baby.

FTMaz · 18/04/2026 00:37

I can’t tell you now if he’s in that room being useless you will want him out.

mathanxiety · 18/04/2026 02:35

He needs to go to therapy. If by about the end of your second trimester he's still unable to guarantee the birth won't turn into an occasion where all the attention is on him, then find a doula.

You will need someone with a cool head who is there to fully support you, and you won't be willing or able to be on the watch for signs your H is struggling, or facing into childbirth with nobody there to advocate for you if he faints.

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