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Postpartum Dad

Supporting Your Partner

By Carma Haley

There are times when the birth of a baby can be more than exhausting for the mother. Whether the cause is a C-section, episiotomy or difficult labor, complications can often follow delivery. Other times there is the challenge of other children at home.

"Dad taking a paternity leave or another form of time off of work can allow Mom to rest more and more often and care for herself as well as her family," Deutch says. "New mothers may not be able to move as quickly or easily as they did before delivery and need to rest appropriately – especially mothers who have had a difficult labor or who are breastfeeding – and having Dad as a partner allows that to happen."

Adam Shoemaker, a truck driver from Chester, Va., pitched in to help his wife after a complicated delivery. "She had been over three weeks late, was having blood pressure problems and had to be induced, he says. "She also had her tubes [tied] shortly after giving birth so she was pretty sore and tired when coming home. It was hard for her to do much lifting or bending, so I would pick up the baby and bring him to her when he needed feeding or lay him on the floor or changing table when she needed him there. She was breastfeeding, so I couldn't do feedings, but I did a lot of baths, diaper changes, cooking and cleaning while she worked on getting her strength back. We called it 'tag-team parenting.'"

Want to see more?

• DadsTalk Discussion Board
• Ask your parenting question here!
• Date Night: The Great Escape
• Postpartum Dad Part One: Helping with Labor, Delivery and Baby's Homecoming
• Visit BirthStories.com!

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