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Up Close and Personal
The Ins and Outs of the Delivery Room
By Mark Stackpole
Nothing can ever truly prepare you for the amazing process of watching a loved one bring a new life into the world. That said, I learned a lot from Nurse Madonna Pitcock, a registered obstetrics nurse and childbirth educator at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Stockton, Calif. Based on my first time in the delivery room and her career in it, there are a few things that we think a father-to-be might benefit from knowing before heading in.
- Be Flexible
This does not necessarily refer to your body posture, though bending over that delivery bed will give you quite a workout (and you will be seeing your partner from some angles that you have never seen before – and may never see again).
No, this refers more to your ability to adapt to the changing conditions of the impending delivery. "Learn all you can and don't get a mindset on how everything is going to be," says Pitcock. "The minute you have an idea that the labor, delivery and your partner are going in a certain direction, Mother Nature makes sure that you are given challenges." Be ready for changes, and be prepared to help your partner adjust to them. - Educate Yourself
Let's assume that you have attended a few classes or doctor's appointments, but that's just the start. As Pitcock points out, "Knowledge eliminates fear." When you get to the room, use that knowledge to ask more questions so that you can be an active and informed participant rather than an anxious and passive observer. Don't wait for a nurse or your partner to ask you for help, and don't be content simply asking what you can do.Want to see more?
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