Question for the Men - did you witness the birth of your child/children??

B

Buckeye

Well-known Member
Watching an Friends rerun where Ross' ex is giving birth to their child. Ross and others were in the room to see it all.

When my kids were born in the early 60s, us fathers-to-be were largely relegated to the waiting room, and I certainly would not have wanted to be in the delivery room. OTOH, my son's children were born in the early 90s, and he was present both times. Lamaze was a thing at the time.

So, how about you, Dad? Were you an eye witness to the birth or a bystander like me?
 

Speaking on behalf of my husband, I had my oldest four in the 80's, and my youngest two in 1990 and 1992, and dear husband wasn't there to witness any of the births, and I was good with it.
 

tbeltrans said:
Though I don't have kids, I was certainly present for my own birth. It was terrible - suddenly thrust from the warm coziness of the womb into the cold world, and then to add insult to injury - smacked on the butt, welcome to the world! o_O

Tony
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LOL!

So true about getting our little bottoms paddled upon making our debut into the world.

Don't think they do that anymore now.
 
Yes, for both daughter and son's birth. We took the equivalent of the Lamaze class, where the dad was supposed to coach on breathing, or offer a pillow and stuff. I didn't end up doing much, I let the doctor call the shots. I did bring pizza later, to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary, my daughters birth and Veteran's day.
 
I'll have to answer for my Hubby since he isn't a member here. I gave birth to my son in 1970 and the Dads weren't allowed in delivery. When I gave birth to my daughter in 1977 Dads were allowed in delivery. They gave me an epidural and it went crazy. I couldn't see or even talk. They made my husband leave the room. I'm telling you he was thrilled he didn't get to stay in the room. He was almost having a panic attack. Thankfully all went well and my daughter was fine. On the other hand, my husband was all shook up.
 
Sassycakes said:
I'll have to answer for my Hubby since he isn't a member here. I gave birth to my son in 1970 and the Dads weren't allowed in delivery. When I gave birth to my daughter in 1977 Dads were allowed in delivery. They gave me an epidural and it went crazy. I couldn't see or even talk. They made my husband leave the room. I'm telling you he was thrilled he didn't get to stay in the room. He was almost having a panic attack. Thankfully all went well and my daughter was fine. On the other hand, my husband was all shook up.
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Tony
 
I didn't get to witness my kids births because it wasn't allowed at our hospital yet. But I got to be in what they called the birthing room for my first grandson's birth and for my youngest/last grandson's birth. The first one didn't go so well. He was born blue and they had to get oxygen in him immediately. They brought him back to his mom several minutes later and he was fine, but my son was a wreck. Mom was too out of it to be shook up over it. At the time I think maternity staff was too generous with the drugs.
 
Not something I would’ve wanted my husband to witness personally and I feel very sorry for fathers today, who would really prefer not to attend the birth of their children, but cant admit it for fear of being considered an uncaring partner

I know if the boot was on the other foot he’d be on his own ! :LOL:
 
Our oldest was a difficult, 12 hour, breech delivery. Baby #2, 11 months later, was so quick the delivery almost took place in the elevator. Barely made it to the "labor" room, and was actually delivered by one of the nurses.

I was glad I did not witness either event.
 
Buckeye said:
Our oldest was a difficult, 12 hour, breech delivery. Baby #2, 11 months later, was so quick the delivery almost took place in the elevator. Barely made it to the "labor" room, and was actually delivered by one of the nurses.

I was glad I did not witness either event.
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Your words are my husbands words to this day.
 
I don't have kids, but i worked in the hospital field. I'd say that up to the 1970s, fathers were never permitted to be in the delivery room. PERIOD. But in the 70s, it was considered a beatnik/hippie type thing for fathers to be in the room, and men were not outright banned., as previously. Then everybody and his grandmother wanted to be in the room. Human birth is not participation sport, So some limits still apply.
 
My ex husband , father of my daughter was in the Royal Navy and at sea on the other side of the world when I went into labour. He was given compassionate leave but our daughter was 2 days old by the time he got back so he missed the whole thing.

My sisters' husband, created such a trauma in the delivery room acting like it was all happening to him and not my sister, when my nephew was being born and my sister was having a caesarean, that the nurses called security on him
 
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My husband was there for 3 of our 4-first one was in 1968,and although it was starting to be allowed,my doctor didn`t allow it. In fact,he stopped delivering babies not long after as he didn`t believe in dads being there. Honestly though,I think hubs would have been fine with not being there-although he nearly ended up delivering #3 in the car,so he really would have been THERE!

He was present for all of the grandkids births though-or most anyway. I think he missed one or two being that he was working out of town.
 
I was allowed to watch the birth of our first daughter....through a window. I felt kind of sorry for the pain my wife had to go through. When our 2nd was born, I was overseas in Thailand, and I got a phone call that everything went ok. We were present when our daughter gave us our first grandchild, and she, too, had a painful delivery. From what I've seen, I'm just glad I'm not a woman.
 
As a woman myself and having given birth 2X's I would not want to be in the delivery room of somebody I loved like my daughter. She had told me she wanted me in the delivery room when she gave birth. She went to the hospital when she was a little over 7 months. They thought she would have to stay at the hospital and be on bed rest until the baby was ready to be born. Well, the baby was ready about an hour later. The baby was only 4 pounds and had to stay in the hospital for 2 weeks. I still tease my daughter that she went early to stop me from seeing her in pain. She was with me when my son's wife had my first grandchild and saw how much I was crying waiting for the baby to come and I wasn't in the room. My daughter teases me that she wouldn't want to see me cry that much again, so she gave birth early.
 
I was in the operating room when my son was born by caesarian because he was breach. I didn't see a lot, but then again I didn't want to see a lot.
 

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