Should fathers be allowed in delivery rooms?

credit: Inferis

Wow, what an age-old question, huh? A quick search on ebsco host shows me that this debate goes back at least to 1962, when volume 25, issue 4 of RN posed the question “Allow expectant fathers in delivery room?”

Interesting enough, it’s only been as late as 2007 that countries such as Iran have allowed fathers into the delivery room for the first time.

The question has further come to light in the past few weeks when Michael Odent, a leading obstetrician from the UK claimed that “the presence of a father in a delivery room is not only unnecessary but also hinders labour.”

Just the title of this post, and the claims from the obstetrician are enough to irritate me. Coming from a father who has been into the delivery room twice to witness the amazing, amazing gift of life, my first thoughts are who are you to deny me of this privilege?

So what are the main points raised by the UK Obstetrician?

• For her, his presence is a hindrance, and a significant factor in why labours are longer, more painful and more likely to result in intervention than ever.
• Women should be left alone to give birth in peace without the distraction of their partner at their bedside
• For many men, the emotional fallout of watching their partner have their baby can never be overcome.
• At the time (1970’s), it was widely believed there were many benefits to be had from the father’s presence.  It was said sharing such an experience would strengthen ties between the couple and help the father bond with his baby.  It was said his reassurance would make birth easier, and that the rate of intervention in pregnancy would decrease as a result. However, little scientific study was conducted to find out if there was any truth to these claims.
• But having been in charge of thousands of births, at homes, in hospitals, in the UK, in France, with the father present, with him absent, I have reached my own conclusions: I am more and more convinced that the participation of the father is one of the main reasons for long and difficult labours.

And here’s why:

• First, a labouring woman needs to be protected against any stimulation of the thinking part of her brain – the neocortex – for labour to proceed with any degree of ease.
• A woman in labour needs to be in a private world where she doesn’t have to think or talk. Yet, motivated by a desire to “share the experience”, the man asks questions and offers words of reassurance and advice.
• The second reason is that the father’s release of the stress hormone adrenaline as he watches his partner labour causes her anxiety, and prevents her from relaxing. No matter how much he tries to smile and appear relaxed, he cannot help but feel anxious. And the release of adrenaline is contagious.
• It has been proven that it is physically impossible to be in a complete state of relaxation if there is an individual standing next to you who is tense and full of adrenaline. The effect of this is that, with a man present, a woman cannot be as relaxed as she needs to be during labour, and hence the process becomes longer and more difficult.
• After birth, too, a woman needs a few moments alone with her baby, particularly between the time the child is born and she delivers the placenta. And this is not just about her need to bond with her baby. Physically, in order to deliver the placenta with ease, her levels of oxytocin – the hormone of love – need to peak.
• Often, as soon as a baby is born, men cannot help but say something or try to touch the baby. Their interference at this key moment is more often than not the main cause for a difficult delivery of the placenta, too.

The article goes on to discuss other reasons behind why men should stay away from the delivery room, including emotional and depression-inducing reasoning, and ends with the decisive statement, “when it comes to the delivery suite, men would be well advised to stay away.”

Do you know I hear what he’s saying, and if I hadn’t been into the delivery room myself, I’d probably say “well he has a bit of an argument there”.

In saying that, I strongly disagree that there should be any hard and fast rule for ANY couple. It comes down to the individual and the couple, because after all – birth of a new baby involves two people. And no one should deny the father being a part of that birth.

Interestingly enough, Dr Ric Gordon rebuts the statements by the UK Obstetrician, stating:

• Many men provide the comfort and emotional support their partners require.
• Many men reduce the amount of pain relief that is used by coaxing/coaching/offering words of encouragement.
• Health providers have to be aware that both the mother and father can suffer from post natal depression, but I have not seen any good studies that relate its occurrence with being present at the delivery.
• The most touching of moments can occur straight after a baby is born between mother, baby and father.

An interesting debate, however I still believe it comes down to the individuals and the couples involved.

It’s certainly realistic to expect that some guys would be traumatised by the whole ordeal or cause more problems for the mother. Personally however, it’s an experience that I will never forget, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.