Dads and Partners
Partners Guide to Pregnancy
Pregnancy can involve a lot of mixed emotions for women thanks to hormonal changes, but it can also bring a rollercoaster of emotions for expectant fathers/partners too. Including feeling really excited about your child’s birth, to feelings of anxiety and uncertainty.
Here we look at what the mum-to-be, may be experiencing and how you can feel prepared yourself for the birth of your baby.
Partner tasks for labour
There was a time when fathers-to-be would be left waiting outside the delivery room for news of their babies birth. These days partners play a much more active role in supporting mothers through labour. If you don’t know very much about the processes of labour and birth its a good idea to do some research
Post birth Trauma for partners
Sometimes a birth experience can be difficult and this can leave the mother feeling distressed. But its not just the mother who can feel traumatised by birth, partners can also be left with anxiety. Complications can arise in labour and there may be the need for intervention, such as an assisted delivery (using forceps or ventouse) or an emergency caesarean or the baby may need some medical attention. These things can be scary as they go on around you, especially if you there if seems to be a lack of information. Witnessing the pain and distress of the birthing mother can be extremely upsetting and can leave birth partners feeling powerless.
Dads and Baby Bonding
Much like the birthing mother, some new dads may feel an immediate rush of love for their new babies whilst many may not. If you don't feel a connection straight away it doesn't make you a bad parent, its actually completely normal for it to take time to form a bond with your new baby. Bonding can happen gradually over many weeks.
Mothers spend a lot of time with babies in the early days, particularly if they breast feed and this could be as often as every hour to begin with. It may feel like your partner is getting all the interaction.