The article was prepared by Anita Skotarczak, a journalist for Gazeta.pl.
"I don't want my husband to be with me during childbirth. One child in the room is enough. What he said last time was so immature that I don't want it to happen again" - she states in an anonymous post. Her honest confession was published on the website kidspot.com.au and sparked quite a discussion online. So, how is it really with these family births? Should husbands be in the room when their child is being born?
Family births don’t always look like they do in the movies
When I went to the hospital to give birth, I had no idea what it would be like. The only thing I was sure of was that I wanted my husband by my side. I was scared. I wanted him not only to hold my hand and give me water but also to think clearly for both of us, or rather, all three of us. And today, I can say without a doubt that his presence helped me a lot. I can’t imagine it any other way, but I know that not all women choose to have their husbands present during childbirth. There are several reasons for this. It may turn out that the partner doesn't feel up to the challenge, faints at the sight of blood, or is terrified by the thought of screams and pain.
If a man needs help himself instead of providing it during childbirth, a family birth may be more problematic than going through it alone. It’s something that really needs to be carefully considered.
One mother, who is due to give birth to her second child in a few weeks, shares a similar view.
He’s a tough guy. He can handle a lot and is my support, but I don’t want him in the delivery room. Why? Well, ever since the first birth, he has repeatedly reminded me that I pooped before the baby came out. He keeps talking about it and mentioning how gross it was
- she describes. "He’s brought it up several times, and I don’t know if I feel comfortable knowing that it could happen again and that he won’t let it go and might say something about it while I’m pushing" - she adds.
"Is he a grown man or a little boy?"
The anonymous mom’s post about not wanting her husband in the delivery room received a flood of responses and reactions. Commenters criticized the husband, noting his lack of sensitivity. They also pointed out that childbirth has its own set of rules, making it difficult to control certain things. "Tell him you don’t want him there and explain why. I’d love to see him push something the size of a grapefruit out of himself while somehow maintaining perfect control over his bowels," one mom wrote. "Why does he keep reminding you of it? That’s so mean. Is he a grown man or a little boy?" another user asked. "Do what makes you feel comfortable, not what society says you should do. Childbirth shouldn’t be a spectator sport," another commenter added.
