Childbirth: Should Fathers Prepare For It Too? – Being Parents

The idea that only the woman should prepare for childbirth is outdated. Fathers also need to be physically and psychologically ready for the birth of the baby.

Customs have changed. Now, the other parent is accepted in the delivery room of the maternity hospital so that they can attend.

Read this article and take note to know how this preparation should be. Take full advantage of father’s adventure.

Fathers: how to prepare for childbirth?

It is clear that fathers also need to prepare for childbirth and help their partner experience this wonderful stage in life. Its role begins as soon as the pregnancy is announced.

However, there are different ways to train around the time of birth. We can thus be of great support. Here are some of the ways:

Exercise and take care of your health

Fatherhood makes most men fearful of how to deal with those aspects of life that will soon change. Channel your fears by exercising. Focus on releasing negative emotions so you don’t pass them on to your partner.

Although you are not the one carrying the baby in your womb, it is essential to maintain a balanced diet, to avoid smoking and to drink alcohol.

If your partner is in the process of conception,  see your doctor and get a checkup. A healthy lifestyle on the part of both parents contributes to the good health of the unborn baby.

Also read:
How to calculate the date of conception?

Chat with your partner

It is essential that you share your fears, emotions, concerns and feelings. You will thus build in a healthy and solid way your new model of life. This will build confidence in the education process.

Attend childbirth preparation classes

Knowing the process of childbirth helps to form the emotional bond both with the partner and with the unborn baby. Thanks to the preparation courses,  you will learn the physiology of pregnancy and the care of the baby. 

You will also be in contact with people in the same situation as you. You will find that sharing your impressions is very useful.

Another important thing is that you attend the medical consultations with your partner. You will be able to observe the baby through the ultrasound and listen to his heartbeat. Who would want to miss this, right? All of these details will help you store the information you need for childbirth.

Help prepare the bag for the maternity ward

As D-Day approaches, you need to help your partner prepare for motherhood affairs. Besides the obvious reasons – she will be  tired and present in pain,  it will allow you to connect with her emotions.

The moment of childbirth: what to do?

It should be noted that despite the best possible preparation for both of you, some circumstances cannot be foreseen. However, it will definitely help you  face the situation with much more integrity and responsiveness. In these moments, the advantages of a good preparation are:

• Listen to your partner  and respond to requests effectively. This may involve calling care staff or reacting to a change in mood. And, above all, be attentive to your emotions and have empathy towards them.
• Do not interfere with the care of nursing staff and help with simple gestures such as taking the hand.
• Know where everything you will need is located: baby and mother’s clothes, sheets, blankets and other organizational aspects.

In conclusion, fathers should also prepare for childbirth. For this, they have almost nine months to serve as support and engage in the emotions involved in this process.