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Dads embrace childbirth experience

Posted on November 2, 2009, 8:08am and updated on November 3, 2009 at 7:42 am

Baby and dadSome fathers become a little pale when queasiness gets the better of them as they witness the birth of their child, while others slump to the ground in a heap as they faint at the foot of the birthing bed.

And yet, the general opinion remains that fathers should be present when their little ones come into the world; women find their support invaluable, men gain a new respect for the woman’s ability to endure pain and the birthing experience brings a strong emotional bond for the couple.

However, this wasn’t always the believe — until 30 or 40 years ago, fathers were not allowed in the delivery room and saw their baby only when the midwife brought the child out.

Fathers then fought for the right to provide moral support to their partner and today an estimated 90pc of men attend the birth of their child.

But now, a French obstetrician is going back in time by saying if a father is present at the birth of his child, the mother is likely to have a difficult labour.

Michel Odent believes the tensions caused by the presence of men could lead to more adrenaline being produced which makes labour longer and more painful, and increases the chance of a caesarean section.

“The ideal birth environment involves no men in general,” he told an English newspaper.

“Having been involved for more than 50 years in childbirths in homes and hospitals in France, England and Africa, the best environment I know for an easy birth is where there is nobody around the women in labour apart from a silent, low-profile and experienced midwife — and no doctor and no husband, nobody else.”

But Mount Gambier obstetrician Colin Weatherill disagrees.

“I support childbirth as a shared event and thus an occasion where the parents decide who will attend,” Dr Weatherill told The Border Watch.

“The majority of fathers provide excellent support to their partners and gain new appreciation of the strengths they (the partners) possess.

“It is frequently an intensely emotional event where the obstetric staff have the privilege of seeing fathers relinquish their guard and be visibly moved by the occasion.”

Phillip Myers became a father for the first time a few decades ago, but the memories of him being present at his three children’s births, are still vivid.

“I nearly fainted at the second one’s birth, but I learned that a woman can withstand more pain than a man and you have to witness it to understand it,” he said.

Only two weeks ago Daniel Murdoch became a father for the first time when his daughter was born at the Mount Gambier Hospital.

“I would not have wanted to miss it for the world,” he said.

“I felt funny and had to sit down a few times, but it was pretty cool to see my baby being born and I wanna be present when the second, third and fourth ones are born.

“It gave me respect for how a woman can endure pain — I am so glad I was born a man.”

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  1. Josh on November 2nd, 2009 10:08 am 1

    I was there. It was great. Something you can’t miss. Wasn’t queasy at all, i don’t see how others have a problem with it! lol

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