Fortunately, those days were left when the father awaited the birth of his heir from the other side of the door while smoking one cigar after another and walked like a caged lion. Before the birth was a matter of women and men had no place in that ritual.
The role of the father in childbirth It has evolved in recent years and today you can witness the birth of your child, not as a mere expectant but involved in the process, supporting the mother and participating in one of the most special moments of her life.
Present from childbirth preparation classes
The man does not begin to act as a father when the baby is born, but since the couple finds out that they are waiting for a baby. Its role in pregnancy is also essential, both as support for the future mother and to begin to establish an emotional bond with the baby inside the womb.
In Babies and more, the more the father is involved in pregnancy, the greater the likelihood that the birth will be natural.The childbirth preparation classes They are an ideal opportunity for both to learn about the physiology of childbirth, baby care, and also share the experience with other couples who are in our same situation.
Be informed in advanceEven if it is not for the first-time parents to know the theory about what will happen at the time of delivery, it will help to have the road paved when it occurs.
How to act at the moment of truth
Since the first labor contractions begin, the father is a much needed support for women. It can help you cope with the period of dilation, accompanying it, relieving pain with massages and offering what you may need at any time, both at home and in the hospital.
It is desirable that it is he who deals in addition to logistical and organizational issues such as making sure that you carry the bag to the hospital, knowing in advance the path you will take, taking the necessary documentation and completing the required paperwork.
Although most women prefer their partner's company at the time of delivery, some choose their mother, sister or only the midwife as companions. If this is the case, it would be convenient to speak it in advance so that the father does not feel relegated and can understand the reasons of his partner.
At the time of birth, although it is the woman who lives it physically, for both of them it is a very strong experience from the emotional point of view. The birth is also yours. The union that is felt with the couple at that time is difficult to explain for those who have lived it. Seeing and feeling the birth of a child is an experience that will never be forgotten, the ultimate expression of love, that of having given life.
In Babies and more The important role of the father during childbirth, captured in incredible and emotional photographsThe active participation of man will depend a lot on where and how childbirth occurs. You may feel somewhat lost about how to help your wife, but acting safely, lovingly and encouraging her will be the best way to do it.
If he has freedom of movement, the man can hold her, let her hang on her arms or hold her in the positions she adopts, whenever she wishes. There are women who prefer not to be touched.
A very beautiful moment that the father can star in is the possibility of cutting the umbilical cord, another way of getting involved in the arrival of the baby. It symbolizes the union that mother and son have maintained, means by which they have received oxygen through the mother until at birth she makes her first breath.
During its first hours of life, the baby needs you
Once the baby is born, the first thing he needs is physical contact with his mother. It should not be separated from its side. Ideally, the first checks how to measure and weigh it wait if the baby is healthy, although they are usually performed in the delivery room itself, or if the child is taken to an adjoining room, it is the father who accompanies the baby in this first revision.
Skin-to-skin contact is essential for the newborn and the father can also help in this, as well as facilitate the early establishment of breastfeeding.
When he has a chance, once they are calm, the father can also practice skin-to-skin contact with the baby, and of course, you can replace the mother if she can't do it at first. It consists of maintaining direct contact with the child while receiving it in his bare chest to transmit heat, protection and affection.
In Babies and more Dad: seven things you can't do in the delivery roomThe first days after birth, father and son will get to know each other little by little. Their caresses, their arms and their words will help to establish a very special bond between them.
As you see, the role of the father in childbirth It is essential for mother and baby. Both need your support and love in such a special moment.
Photos | Thinkstock On Babies and more | The role of the father in childbirth preparation courses, Guide to normal delivery care for pregnant women, future parents and companions
