Where should I stand: Dad in the Delivery Room

The baby is COMING NOW.

It's the first decision you have to make in your soon to be young baby's life. Where should you stand? Because... I'm going to tell you this from personal experience... If you choose wrong you are going to see things you CANNOT un-see.


OK so your little one is about to make his first appearance. Where should I stand, how much do I really want to see of this miracle of life?

Oh dear god is that the top of a hairy head?

Why can't we go back to the days of fathers being the delicate fainting flowers who cannot be tolerated in the delivery room, so we can go saddle up to a bar next to the hospital, too insecure in their constitution that they shouldn't be subjected to the bloody, shitty reality of having a baby. You know back when "America was great".


Honestly I wouldn't have missed being there the moment my son met the world kicking screaming and covered in blood for anything in the world. But let's be real, after all, She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's body did great things — terrible, yes, but great.

I choose to stand at my wife's side at chest level. I could hold her hand, look into her eyes and tell her how sorry I was every 3-4 minutes.  And bonus points, I didn't have a direct view at the main event... Until I did.

Word from the wise, if you don't want to see the main event, stand behind her shoulder, or behind her head or over in the bar across the street... When the baby comes.... nothing is shaped the way you're used to. That is the real miracle, your partner is literally reforming and and tearing apart their body birth your kid.  And all you can do is say "I am so sorry. I love you so much." 

I cried the moment my son was born.  



Stand where you want, but get as close as you can.

-Dad

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