Dads in the Delivery Room
One of the negotiations expectant couples may have to face is who will be in the delivery room. Dr. Phil's opinion has been that the mother-to-be decides who gets to be present for the delivery. But what if the father-to-be doesn't want to be there? Author and parenting expert Armin Brott offers some tips:
There are many reasons a new dad may not want to be present. Perhaps he's the type of guy who gets squeamish when it comes to hospitals and medical procedures. Or maybe he's afraid he'll fall apart, making things harder on his partner. Or maybe he just doesn't want to see his wife in pain. There are some things to consider if you and your partner are having a hard time negotiating this:
- If you're somewhat less than enthusiastic about being an active labor and delivery participant, don't beat yourself up about it or allow yourself to feel like a failure. As many as half of all expectant fathers have at least some ambivalence about participating in the birth of their children.
- Recognize there's a difference between encouraging dads to be involved in their partners' pregnancies and pressuring them to do something they don't feel comfortable with. If you're a nervous father-to-be, there are a few things you may want to try to help you get over some of your concerns: