The Dad's Role

Believe it or not, dads play a vital role in getting mums through labour and birth. Forget the clichés of women screaming for a divorce whilst in labour – the most important thing to remember is that mum needs you just as much as she needs the midwife. For the mums, it is also extremely important that you remember that dad will be just as excited and scared as you are so try and be nice to him! Below are just a few ways that dad can be a good birth partner.

• Massage – many women in labour find massage can help with the pain, so get practising!
• Don’t forget to be encouraging – tell mum how great she is doing and if possible, try and distract her from the pain.
• Be proactive – if you are unsure as to what is happening then don’t be afraid to ask the midwife. Make sure that you are familiar with mum’s birth plan in case you are asked to make decisions.
• Take care of yourself – make sure that you remember to eat and if possible get some sleep.
• Be thick skinned – understandably, some women can be a bit volatile whist in labour, so try and dodge the insults as best you can; she doesn’t mean it (honest).
• The good news – make sure that your mobile is fully charged or that you have change for the payphone. Telling people the good news will be your responsibility, so make sure that you have everybody’s number with you so you can phone or text them. If you are using a mobile phone, then remember you must go outside of the maternity unit to use it!