When it comes to childbirth, popular media often
love to portray fathers as helpless and incompetent during labor and
birth. When labor starts, the mother-to-be calmly manages her
contractions as the dad sets into a panic, leaving behind the pre-packed bag,
taking a wrong turn to the hospital, or running the halls searching for a
nurse.
In reality, dads often play a critical role in
supporting mothers during pregnancy and birth and advocating for safe
care. As Father’s Day approaches, Lamaze International wants expectant
dads to know that childbirth education goes a long way when it comes to
learning how to be the most helpful, from the moment they find out they’re
expecting through the first contraction and beyond.
Cherington Shucker and Darin Gehrke of New York welcomed
their first child earlier this year and talked about their experience in
Lamaze’s Push for Your Baby video, “Parents Push”: www.Lamaze.org/pushforyourbaby-video. Both agreed that Darin’s participation in childbirth education classes
enabled him to take an active, positive role in the delivery of their child.
“To help ease the pain of childbirth, I was able to
support Cherington in using various types of pain-relief techniques,” said
Gehrke. “We knew in advance that there were many natural options to find
greater comfort, and it was especially important for us to avoid any unneeded
medical interventions that could lead us down the road to a cesarean birth.”
The importance of fathers advocating for the best
care is underscored by persistent and growing gaps in the quality of care women
and babies often receive. A recent report by Consumer Reports says, too
often, unnecessary medical interventions are used in birth, increasing risks to
mothers and babies.[i] For example,
unnecessary cesarean births can come with unintended health consequences for
mom and baby, including breathing problems for baby or complications in future
pregnancies for mom. One recent study published in the Archives of
Disease in Childhood even suggests that babies born by cesarean may have
about twice the risk of becoming obese as infants delivered vaginally.[ii]
Other interventions pose challenges to the health
of moms and babies too, including early induction (performed before 39 weeks of
pregnancy), epidurals and electronic fetal monitoring.
“Dads can play a key role early on in pregnancy to
help mom and baby get the care that’s safest and healthiest,” said Lamaze
President-elect Tara Owens Shuler, MEd, CD(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, Director of
Continuing Education, Special Projects, and Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program
for the Duke AHEC Program. “He’s a very important advocate, and can
provide emotional support for mom throughout labor and birth.”
Here are five tips to help dads prepare for and
provide support through pregnancy, labor and birth:
1) Take a childbirth education class with your
partner. The benefits of a good childbirth education class can often be
overlooked. A class can help dads, and other support people, learn about the
different options and interventions, and get the tools and knowledge to push
for the best care during pregnancy, labor and birth. It can also spark the
conversation between and among couples, so you can learn from one another and
interact with other expectant parents in your shoes.
2) Work with mom to plan. Talk things
through with one another and with your care provider. Chances are greater for a
positive birth outcome if support begins early on in pregnancy. Discuss the
different options for a safe and healthy birth, and map a pathway to get there.
Labor and birth can be a dynamic process so it’s vital to work with mom to
create Plan A, Plan B and Plan C.
3) Learn how to be an advocate for mom.
Birth is an intense process, emotionally and physically. It's important for
dads to be informed and know how to advocate for her wishes. She may come under
pressure from family members or healthcare providers and the father’s voice is
important in pushing for the safest, healthiest care.
4) Find out about techniques to help minimize
the pain. There are many natural ways, such as relaxation, to find greater
comfort in childbirth and help labor progress. Every woman is unique and has
her own ways of feeling safe, comfortable and relaxed. Whether she uses a hot
shower or bath, hip squeezes and pressure points, or birth ball exercises, dads
can help mom identify the pain-relief tools that are best suited for her
individual needs.
5) Be prepared to welcome baby into the world
(and help mom recover). Birth can be exhausting for both mom and baby,
and dad can help to support both after birth. He can help mom by managing
visitor times, rocking baby to sleep after feeding, and making sure mom is fed
and gets enough rest.
Expectant dads can find out even more at www.PushForYourBaby.com.
About
Push for Your Baby
Push
for Your Baby
was created by Lamaze
International to provide expectant parents with the support and information
needed to push for the safest, healthiest birth possible. Knowing how to spot
good maternity care is the key to getting it, and through Lamaze childbirth
education classes, parents-to-be can get the tools needed to have the best
birth day. For more information visit: www.PushForYourBaby.com.
About
Lamaze International
Lamaze
International promotes a healthy and safe approach to pregnancy, childbirth and
early parenting practices. Knowing that pregnancy and childbirth can be
demanding on a woman’s body and mind, Lamaze serves as a resource for
information about what to expect and what choices are available during the
childbearing years. Lamaze childbirth education and practices are based on the
best and most current medical evidence available. Working closely with their
families, healthcare providers and Lamaze educators, millions of pregnant women
have achieved their desired childbirth outcomes using Lamaze practices. The
best way to learn about Lamaze’s steps to a safe and healthy birth is to take a
class with a Lamaze certified instructor. To find classes in your area, or for
more information visit: www.lamaze.org.
[i] “What to
reject when you’re expecting.” Consumer Reports. May 2012. Available online: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/what-to-reject-when-you-re-expecting/index.htm.
Accessed 6/12/12.
[ii] Huh, S.,
et. al. Archives of Diseases in Childhood. March 2012. Available online:
http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2012/05/09/archdischild-2011-301141.abstract?sid=4f920274-7dd6-40cc-b98b-fe9f4f5d9076.
Accessed 6/12/12.
No comments:
Post a Comment