Fathers at Birth by Rose St. John

I love this book for many reasons and recommend it to families all the time.  It is useful not only for partners but for doulas and anyone else attending a woman in labor.  There were many important parts that I thought we should discuss but I tried to limit the discussion because I know we are all pressed for time.  If I missed anything you would like to bring up please feel free to do so…again-let’s have fun!

Do you ever wonder what men really think about pregnancy, labor, birth, and breastfeeding? Is there a moment when they are jealous that the cannot experience it all first hand? Or do they secretly think "Oh wow, that was gross!" even as they are smiling and nodding while they watch us have a bowel movement in the middle of pushing our children out? 

I have caught my own husband inadvertently let his true feelings peek through his facial expressions, especially when I am excitedly sharing what I've just learned from reading my latest book on placental preservation. While he truly remains supportive, his (sometimes still immature) male mind is full of jokes, related anecdotes, and other inappropriate material forever ready to spill out at the worst moment. Most men only have to dwell on the intricacies of childbirth for nine months at a time, a few times in their lives (unless they are employed in the field)--as birth professionals,  our men have to live childbirth morning, noon, and night! 

And let's talk about men employed in the birth field for just a moment. What about the women in their lives? Do they ever feel threatened, or that their man is becoming less of a man because he sees vaginas all day long? Now I know that's a touchy subject, but as the old adage goes, it's always the plumber who has the leaky faucet. He's so busy fixing other people's faucets he's too tired/bored/sick of looking at faucets to fix his own when he gets home. Something to think about. On the flip side, I suppose a man working with pregnant women, babies, and new mothers on a daily basis might also become more tender, more loving, more compassionate  and more understanding when their wife has PMS or PPD.