Fathers Should Also Be Present During Childbirth

Reviewed and approved by the psychologist Valeria Sabater.

Written by Valeria Sabater

Last update: 22 December, 2021

Fathers have an essential role when it comes to the birth of their child and should certainly be present throughout the process.

A father is the other half that completes the process. He provides essential support to the new mother, and he will receive and take care of his little child with immense happiness.

Yet even today, the word “childbirth” still has an almost exclusively feminine connotation.

In the past, when women gave birth they were only accompanied by other women. Some of them midwives and others were women who were equally skilled in the necessary tasks. They knew what to do, how to react and how to accompany the new mother.

It was customary for the father to stay behind closed doors, listening, suffering, waiting.

Currently, fathers are already having a more active role in delivery rooms if the conditions allow for it. In fact, their presence is something that the WHO establishes as a fundamental part of a respected delivery.

Mothers should feel accompanied and have that personal and emotional closeness that will undoubtedly make the moment more magical, unforgettable and easier to handle.

If the father is not in the delivery room, the mothers suffers more stress

Birth is not a ritual where the presence of the father should be excluded.

Giving birth to a child is a natural act and therefore, it is essential that the other protagonist of this act of love, pain and emotions is present. He may not give birth but he also suffers and he also feels the excitement.

If there is something that we all know, it is that not all mothers clearly remember their birth process. The reasons for this lack of memory are the following:

• The lack of humanization of the process: it is too instrumentalized.
• They suffer from separation from the newborn if the child arrived in the world by cesarean section.
• Moments that encourage early attachment through “skin-to-skin” contact are not enjoyed.
• They don’t remember a lot due to medications or complicated births.
• They don’t have the closeness of the father during the moment of birth and sometimes they feel alone and scared.

Among all of these factors, the most commonly experienced by mothers are the feeling of separation from the baby and not having their partner nearby.

The absence of a father in the delivery room can increase the amount of stress a mother feels exponentially. This is something that most be taken into account.

The role of a father during pregnancy, birth and postpartum

Sometimes, we neglect the important role that a father has during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. We know that almost all the attention falls on the mother and the baby.

However, fathers must also concentrate on multiple responsibilities while setting the stage to make the experience easier and magical.

Let’s analyze this topic in depth.

The role of the father during pregnancy

A father provides daily support for a pregnant woman. He is also her accomplice. The other half with which a mother makes plans, dreams and reaches agreements on the type of birth and how they’ll raise their child.

We also cannot forget the importance of emotional stability, which is essential for the health of both the mother and fetus.

If the father acts as an ally and helps his partner manage stress, shows her affection, love and continuous support, he will not only contribute to the strengthening of the relationship, but also to a happier pregnancy.

• It is also recommended for fathers to attend childbirth preparation classes. This can be an exceptional way to help them understand the process and show them how they can be the essential help that a mother needs.

During delivery

Fathers usually take care of all the logistics. They organize, carry out, direct, have their telephone in one hand and 10 extra arms to carry all the mother’s belongings.

Fathers can also be a help to the mother during the dilation period by accompanying her in her breathing exercises.

Fathers can provide ever present support and that familiar face that conveys confidence to the mothers: “He is here, everything will go well.”

• The presence of a father in the delivery room will help the expectant mother experience less stress. It will also give her a feeling of security.
• Another responsibility that fathers have is to try to respect the privacy of the newborn and mother after birth. It should be him that controls the relatives, expressing to them the need for calm and privacy.

After birth

When a mother comes back home after childbirth, she will need help in many different ways: emotionally, practically, physically and logistically.

The father is always there through the whole process in the flesh, mind and heart. He is a part of that new life and he will be available to the new mother in those moments where she needs him the most.