I had to add "other" because my DH can't stomach stuff like that. Gory movies are fine, but childbirth is in a league of its own! He said he would like to be there during delivery, but isn't sure if he will make it and may need to leave the room, lol!
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Absolutely, I don't think I could have done it without him.
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DH's uncle told us that he tried to be there for his kids' deliveries, but passed out all three times!
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He was there every step of the way. He even said he wouldn't look "down there" but ended up holding one of my legs and being super motivating/helpful.
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Yep, he looked at eeeeverything during my c-section and even took photos because the anesthesiologist told him he would want them later. Ahaha they are pretty gory but amazing
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Yep! He was holding my right leg haha!
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If I had to be there, he had to be there.
My BIL is squeamish with blood but was fine during my SIL's c-section. My husband got WAY too fascinated in mine and was asking all these questions -- weirdo.
@fairy: Same! We have a picture of my son when he was first lifted out that has me opened up on the table in the background.
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@cmomma17, I don't think I would be able to without him, either! @lilyann & @fairy, that's awesome!
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Yes, and I'm so glad. The only part he wasn't present for was when they prepped me for my emergency C section. He was there for the rest of the time.
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Definitely!!!
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Lol @boheme & I like your way of thinking, @lbee! If I'm there, you're there haha love it
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Yep, he isn't squeamish at all and actually gave an excited narrative of what was happening that I could have lived without.
That said, if your SO has an issue, he can stand by your head when it's time to push without seeing much. I'd really recommend getting a doula or someone else to support you either instead of him or as a back up. I couldn't have done it by myself.
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He was worried about the gore but even ended up catching her. He said it was both better and worse than he expected, there was a lot more blood then he expected.
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@MrsKMM: I had a really hard birth, and my husband struggled with seeing me in so much pain. What helped him was to hold my leg and standing facing toward my face instead of facing the action
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He was there for all of it! He watched her come out and everything.
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Yup-- he was there! You know, these things change sometimes. Before we had LO, DH would make dumb comments like he might have to wait outside, or that changing a poopy diaper was too gross, so I would have to do it. But when it was game time, that all changed. I think he could see that I needed him there, and it wasn't even a question. He was also holding my hand during contractions and my right leg during pushing.
And he changed *all* the poopy diapers the first 2 weeks. Without complaint!
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@Boheme: Hubs was holding my right leg too!
Until I got an episiotomy and he almost feinted - then a nurse jumped in while he sat down with his head between his legs, haha.
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Not even a question for my DH. He can get squeamish too, but he wanted to be front and center for the delivery!
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@Adira: hahaha! Same here! DH accidentally looked when I got my episiotomy, and he had to go lie down in the bathroom for a bit. He had his own nurse for about 15 minutes!
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Of course! He was very involved too, although I had to be taken to the OR for the actual delivery moment (standard with twins) and we were surrounded by other people so he was up near my head when Alice actually came out. Then he was kicked out of the room for Blake because it was an emergency C and they didn't have time to get the curtains up. He did get to trim the cords after though.
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@Boheme: hahaha, I remember the nurse taking over and everyone telling my husband to sit down and put his head down and I was all "WTF is wrong with him??? I'M the one having a baby!!"
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@Boheme: @Adira: DH wasn't in the room when Blake was born because he was an emergency C section and they didn't put up all the curtains, etc. So they let DH in the room after Blake was out and he headed straight to me and got a major eye full. A nurse grabbed him and steered him over to the where the babies were while they got the curtains up for my stitching up. He said it was the most bizarre thing he's ever seen!
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@2PeasinaPod: Oh wait, same! My hospital doesn't allow anyone non-essential to be present for the epidural (too many "observers" have passed out and caused problems) and I remember my husband came in when they had already started the procedure.
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Yep...he held my left leg and was awesome!
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Absolutely, he even looked both times. He originally said he just wasn't going to look, which I was ok with, but he actually got right up in there
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He was there for both c sections. He loved it. He was looking at everything and cracking jokes. My sister was there the 1st time too. They commented on my organs sitting on top of me!
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I'm loving all the supportive SOs!
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I haven't given birth yet but DH will be there... He BETTER BE, lol!
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Yep! He was there for 18 hours of labor (well, maybe 17, we didn't know we were going to end up at the hospital and he had to run home to get our bags once I got settled) and in the operating room during my c section and never left my postpartum room except to get us food
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He was there but stayed up by my head the whole time (at my request/preference). He held the barf bag while I threw up (twice during pushing - ugh) and gave me water in between all of my pushes (for two hours), which I really appreciated!
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I can't fathom him not being there! He is concerned he'll pass out but him being there is a non-negotiable for me!
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Yep, he was there. He barely ate throughout my labor and delivery. He ended up in the ER for exhaustion while I had a day old newborn at the hospital. He remembers the stuff I don't about the labor. The blood and stuff was traumatizing. He's reminded me of that. Otherwise, it was just us, nurses, and doctors throughout my L&D.
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Yes, I am really glad he was there for me because I had an unplanned c section after hours of labor. There wasn't much he could do to make it easier but it was scary and I needed him. He is a little squeamish and anxious sometimes but in the moment he dealt with everything fine. Plus I couldn't hold our son right after birth so he needed his Daddy.
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Yes he was there for all of it. He was mostly by my head I think. I remember him helping me focus by just staring into my eyes and keeping me there since I kept zoning out at the end.
I'm not sure how much of the action he saw but he assures me it was very gross.
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Yup, I didn't want to look in a mirror so he had to give me the play-by-play. For our first delivery he refused to sit down... he was standing by my bedside for almost 24 hours straight. He only sat down when I napped when my epidurals took effect (had 3 failures so those naps were short). The nurses kept yelling at him to sit down but he refused. The next day his feet were on fire!!!
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@MrsKMM: He was the only person I knew I needed ... He caught our baby. Couldn't have done it without him. Oh, and our midwives!!
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@MrsKMM: Also, I'm a birth photographer, and I've heard this many, many times. My husband didn't think he'd want to cut the cord, but when the time came, you couldn't have paid him to not do it.
With the couples I work with, I hear the partners say they aren't sure they can handle it. But, when the time comes, they are so involved. It's amazing to see a baby being born, and I'm sure it'll be awesome.
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For sure, though he stayed by my head during the pushing (my preference)... need to maintain a little mystery!
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Every step of it. He loves that kinda thing, he's fascinated with the body. He would love to be a dr or a physiotherapist. If they would allow him, he would love to be as involved as possible, not just cutting the cord. I think with #2 he will try and get in there even more haha.
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Yep, he held my leg while I pushed! And he didn't think he would want to but he ended up cutting the cord
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