Dads in the Delivery Room
"The amount of pain a women feels during child birth can have a direct relationship to the amount of support that she recieves." Dr Jim Ferry

Although we had been trying for a couple of months when she said the words "I'm pregnant" I still went into a state of panic, fear and overwhelming happiness. I was going to be a Dad.

Hiding the pregnancy when we went out was hard, I felt like I was the one getting all the morning sickness. Night after night of secretly drinking Polly's white wine as well as my own beer made for some shocking hangovers.

During the scan the little babies seemed to be quite active and happily bouncing around walls of my wife's uterus, completely oblivious to the emotional volcano they had just erupted on their parents...twins!

When the gynaecologist referred to my wife as the mother, "It's up to your wife, as the mother to...." I suddenly felt very young to be a father. I had only just got comfortable with calling her "wife" life was moving very fast.

Average age of fathers in Australia is 32.9 years.

The world's oldest recorded father is purported to be Australian mine worker, Les Colley, who was 92 years 10 months when he fathered a son, Oswald, in 1992. "I never thought she would get pregnant so easy, but she bloody well did," he told newspapers at the time, referring to his Fijian wife whom he'd met through a dating agency a year earlier.

The average number of disposable nappies that a child will wear up to the age of 2 1/2 years is 7,350


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Heads or Tails: think about what you prefer!
  
In today’s world it's politically correct for new Dads to physically be in the delivery room during labour and delivery, even cutting the umbilical cord is considered to be their privilege; a concept that would have sent shivers down the spine of most of their fathers.

We interviewed highly respected Gynaecologist and father of three Dr Jim Ferry and asked him what advice he would give to our future Dads-to-be on the labour and delivery. Dr Ferry’s top tip for Dads is simple; “Just be there” he went to say, “Most women find having their partner in the same room a massive help and comfort. Men often feel they have to be doing something when in reality all they need to do is hold her hand and offer kind words of encouragement and support.” 

Common feelings during the labour and delivery can include helplessness, anxiety, frustration, uncertainty about what to do and difficulty with seeing their partners in pain. If you find yourself in this situation try and remember A. it is normal B. to try and stay calm especially in front of your partner who may sense your feelings. C. Relieve her stress, don’t add to it! 

An important point for Dads to remember if they have a strong preference to support your partner from her head rather than her feet, it is to inform the Midwife when you arrive at the hospital, or you may find you are playing a very active role with a front row seat.

 
Top 10 Items to pack in your hospital bag
  1. Thermos of coffee/tea (partners often do not want you to leave the room)
  2. Soft wash cloth
  3. Camera/Video recorder with spare batteries and film, memory card if needed
  4. Energy drink
  5. Chocolate, energy bars (for you as well as her)
  6. A warm jumper
  7. Toothbrush, Deodorant
  8. Mobile phone
  9. Money for car park, snacks, drinks
Highly respected gynaecologist and father of three Dr Jim Ferry gives his top tips on men in the delivery room. A must read for all dads-to-be who want advice on how they can help and support their partner.

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