10 Pros and Cons of having a man present during childbirth

While some men like to be there to welcome their children and support their partners during childbirth, others don’t make the slightest effort to accompany the birth. This raises several questions about the advantages and disadvantages of having dads in the delivery room. That’s why it’s so important to learn more about the things that can happen in both cases.

In this post, the incredible.club wants to show the positive and negative sides of the man’s decision to be present at such an important time for the family. And in the bonus, we bring reports from fathers and mothers about this unique experience.

Oxytocin, known as the love hormone, is needed to make childbirth easier and less painful. So it’s best for men who aren’t ready, are less informed, or are afraid of the process to stay away. Their anxiety can add even more tension to the environment, potentially causing a situation where the mother’s adrenaline level rises as the love hormone decreases.

Some men feel helpless and hopeless after witnessing the child’s birth. That’s because there’s not much they can do to help. Furthermore, they tend to feel ignored by the medical staff and fear for their wives’ lives. Such feelings are usually not put out, getting stuck in the subconscious. Symptoms of depression can include weight gain/loss, headaches, fatigue, or even isolation from friends and family.

While some men don’t see any problems in accompanying the birth of their children, others are not prepared. And this can result in compromised love life for some couples. Witnessing the birth of the child can reduce the feelings that man and woman have for each other, turning romance into just friendship.

When it comes time for the mother to hold the newborn for the first time, she needs to have her full attention focused on the baby. Looking into the child’s eyes for the first time, smelling it and experiencing skin-to-skin contact ends up making the woman disconnect from everything else that is happening around her. This is even important for the expulsion of the placenta, as the love hormone is essential even after childbirth. But when dad is present, he can become the reason for an adrenaline rush, which, in turn, leads to a drop in the levels of hormones needed at that time.

Even if the man decides to stay by his partner and the unborn child, this could prove to be a bad idea. The statement is especially true when labor lasts for more than 12 hours. Some parents start to eat there, watch videos on their cell phones and even leave the room during labor. Also, they may start to feel drowsy because of the adrenaline rush they experienced trying to get to the hospital on time.

Even if some men feel afraid and hesitate in the face of such an important moment, the unpredictability of childbirth leaves them with no choice. Staying next to the loved one when seeing her in pain may be the only thing they think about, making the moment unforgettable and giving the man the chance to accompany the child’s first minutes in the world.

It’s not always easy for a newborn to breastfeed right away. But once they do, the mother tends not to want to move around too much so as not to disturb the baby. Already in the first attempt at breastfeeding still in the hospital, the father can help. He might offer the woman help, put an extra pillow on her back, or even give her a light massage.

It’s good for future dads to stay by their partners during childbirth. Thus, they can make them feel more relaxed, even getting a few laughs. Even that anxious talk about the baby’s arrival can be useful, albeit indirectly, by making the childbirth experience more positive. The new mom will be sleep-deprived and exhausted, and will likely be on medication. However, with the man by her side, she can relax more in the knowledge that the baby is in good hands.

In recent decades, fathers have become more involved in their children’s lives. Being present at the time of the pregnancy test, exams, ultrasound and childbirth has the potential to generate very positive consequences. This further enhances the child’s emotional and cognitive development.

In some cases, natural childbirth may not go as planned, despite all the precautions taken and the care of the medical team. At times like this, it may be necessary to make a decision that was not foreseen, and the man will be there to help. There are even cases where the presence of the man was crucial in saving the life of the woman and child.

Have you ever had this experience? In your opinion, should dads be present at the time of birth? Because? Comment!