- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- dads today articles
- dads today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Up Close and Personal
The Ins and Outs of the Delivery Room
By Mark Stackpole
You think you're ready to go into the delivery room, but you're not. You think you know about the delivery room, but you don't.
Sitting through an episode of A Baby Story on TLC doesn't really count. After all, those types of programs have been edited for television. Oh man, have they been edited for television.
You've also been to a few childbirth classes and probably felt foolish practicing those breathing exercises. Undoubtedly, you've been to a few doctor's appointments and watched as your partner put her feet up in stirrups and got examined thoroughly. You've seen ultrasounds and heard heartbeats. You've been there every step of the way so far. Good for you. However, the biggest steps are yet to come.
As that due date gets closer, it can feel like the delivery room is waiting for you in much the same way that the Temple of Doom was waiting for Indiana Jones. Here's the thing, though – your partner is counting on you to be there for her. While you know that yours will be a supporting role rather than a starring one, it will be integral and you need to be ready to play it. But how can you ever really be ready to stand helplessly by as your partner goes through so much, emotionally and physically?
As a brand new father (who was a nervous father-to-be until very recently), I realize how truly unprepared I was for the birthing experience. Perhaps it was arrogance or simply being naive, but I didn't place much stock in the childbirth classes – I thought I knew it all. Fortunately, I had an excellent teacher who put me on the path to understanding just how much was going to be at stake in that delivery room.
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||