FATHERS: Were You Present When Your Child was Born?
By birthlady
@birthlady (5609)
United States
7 responses
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
5 Dec 06
I had c-sections but my husband was by my side for 3 of the 4. He was a great comfort to have the first 3 times. He couldn't be there for the last one (in April) because we had no one to watch our other kids. He sat in the waiting room with them and I went it alone. It was very boring and lonely in the OR alone. I was more sad, though, that he missed the birth of what will most likely be our last child. He was the first one to hold her after me though, when she was just about an hour old (that is how long it took to get me all sewed up and wheeled to recovery.
@birthlady (5609)
• United States
5 Dec 06
Too bad your hospital doesn't have child care services, or at least a CNA who's not too busy, to watch children in these circumstances, maybe you can help your hospital start one! Put it in the suggestion box!
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
5 Dec 06
I had thought of that. It would have been nice. It was okay though. I wasn't too scared, just really bored laying there with no one to talk with. One nurse tried to keep my occupied and was asking me questions about names and such but I was so short of breath (from the spinal) that I couldn't really talk much. I really loved that hospital. It was my best birth experience of the 4.
@birthlady (5609)
• United States
16 Dec 06
That's great! So, follow up with the suggestion box, I'm sure other moms will love you for it!
@birthlady (5609)
• United States
5 Dec 06
perhaps this person thinks I mean to ask if he was present in an obstetric/midwifery capacity.
@msqtech (15073)
• United States
5 Dec 06
I was present for the second one not the first because of the navy had me in the mediterranean. I think all fathers should be there if they can be. It is the most glorious time of married life to share. I also want them to know that their wife is the most beautiful when pregnant with their baby
@birthlady (5609)
• United States
16 Dec 06
That's really great to hear from a dad, thank you, especially for saying to fathers, that "their wife is the most beautiful when pregnant with their baby"...
@R3fl3XioN (3187)
• France
5 Dec 06
My father said to me that he was not present during my birth, he came to cut the cord.
I just love my father.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
15 Dec 06
My husband was present when my first child was born. Not all hospitals in India allow the husband (or anyone else) to be present during delivery. Frankly, he was irritating me more than helping. I know he was trying to help and reassure me. But I was handling it well on my own and he was just making me lose concentration. I really had to work hard on not yelling at him and asking him to get out:P
But for my second, I was at my mother's. My husband was with me...but I had a C-section and the hospital didn't allow anyone else to enter (even if it was normal).
@birthlady (5609)
• United States
16 Dec 06
Thank you for responding. Are more hospitals in India beginning to allow fathers to be present during delivery?
@birthlady (5609)
• United States
4 Dec 06
That's great he was there when your girls were born. Is he especially close and bonded with your daughters?
@srhelmer (7047)
• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
4 Dec 06
I was present and it was definitely an experience. Unfortunately, our daughter had a rough time when she was born and I have just as many bad memories as good ones of the experience but it's definitely something I wouldn't have missed.
@birthlady (5609)
• United States
4 Dec 06
I hope your daughter is well. Thank you for responding. Any advise you would give a first time dad?
