 News
28th April 2006
Dads face delivery room dilemma
Expectant fathers who are keen to play a supportive role
in the delivery room can suffer from feelings of helplessness, according
to a recent survey commissioned for the Royal College of Midwives .
The GfK NOP survey shows that sixty-two per cent of mothers
name the father of the child as their preferred birthing partner, despite
the fact that 16 per cent feel that he can get in the way and 15 per cent
that there’s nothing much he can do to help.
Dame Karlene Davis, General Secretary of the Royal College
of Midwives said, ”Today’s society is putting even greater pressure on
doting fathers to perform in the delivery room, yet some men find the
whole process terrifying.
"Whilst the midwife is the top choice for providing
professional advice and encouragement, a birthing partner needs to offer
support and calmness.
"Not every expectant father makes a good birthing partner
so why not ask your mother or another female friend to be present too,
so that he can take time out if it all gets too much.”
Over a quarter of mothers and 20 per cent of fathers say that the presence
of the father proves just how much pain they have to go through during
the labour process and three per cent men of fathers feel that it’s degrading
for the mother, as the father shouldn’t have to witness everything.
However, 64 per cent feel that the experience of the father being present
at birth helps provide support for the mother during labour and birth
while 52 per cent feel that it helps the father bond with the new baby.
Forty one per cent believe that it provides dads with the opportunity
to take a more active role.
Th survey of over 1,400 parents was commissioned for the Royal College
of Midwives to celebrate National Midwifery Week (1-7 May 2006).
In the UK, the midwife is the senior professional in over 66 per cent
of births and there is an extensive support network now available to expectant
mothers.
The survey showed that 61 per cent mums would turn to the midwife for
impartial and accurate advice on pregnancy, labour and birth, 33 per cent
would chose a doctor, 21 per cent their mum and 13 per cent would choose
a female friend.
Dame Karlene has this advice for expectant fathers. “Prepare, prepare
and prepare. Read up all you can on the subject and get involved from
the very start by being there with your partner for her first antenatal
visit and scan.
"Then try to attend as many antenatal appointments as you can and
accompany her to antenatal classes.
“When it comes to being at the birth, talk to other fathers about the
experience so that you know what to expect.”
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