Dad’s Survival Guide for the Final Stages of Labor and Delivery

It’s Time to Push

Once mom is fully dilated, she can begin pushing as soon as she begins to feel the urge to push.  If the baby is still high in the pelvis, it may take a few contractions to push the baby further into the birth canal before she has the urge to push.  If she has had a long labor and the baby is still high in the pelvis, your doctor might encourage her to rest and allow her uterus to do the work to help conserve her energy, this process is known as laboring down.  If she starts pushing when the baby is still high in the birth canal, she could end up getting frustrated with the progress and become overly exhausted from pushing.  Mom’s who have had an epidural are less likely to be able to feel when they have the urge to push.  However, some women feel the urge to push before she has even dilated to 10 centimeters.  Most doctors urge women to wait until they are fully dilated before allowing her to start pushing.

Vaginally Delivering the Baby

As the baby makes his or her way down the birth canal, the perineum area will begin to bulge before you will see your baby’s head appear.  If she wants to watch the birth now is the time to get a mirror for her.  Dad if you do not wish to see your baby crown, now would be the perfect time to stay at the head of the bed while you continue to encourage her to push.  Once the head has made it’s way out, her doctor may tell her to stop pushing while he or she suctions out the baby’s mouth.  If she has the urge to push while the doctor is working on the baby, urge her to pant to counteract the urge to push.  After the doctor has finished suctioning out the baby’s mouth, the doctor will finish delivering the baby  with a few more good pushes from mom.  Most doctors will place the baby on the mother’s belly to dry off the baby, unless there is a medical emergency.

Cutting The Umbilical Cord

Dad if you are planning on cutting the cord, now is the time to speak up.  Once the doctor clamps the umbilical cord, the doctor typically hands dad the scissors so that you can cut the umbilical cord between the two clamps.  The umbilical cord is kinda tough, so it takes a bit of muscle to cut through the cord.

The Final Stage of Delivery is Often Overlooked by Most Dad’s

The final stage of delivery is often overlooked by most dads as they are too busy gazing at their new baby.  Shortly after delivery, she will have to deliver the placenta, which provided nourishment to your baby while inside the womb.  After the baby’s birth, she will have several more contractions which will detach the placenta from the uterine wall.  Then once the placenta is fully detached, the doctor will then have her do several more pushes to deliver the placenta, which isn’t painful to deliver   If you have a weak stomach, I suggest that you don’t look at the placenta.

Now that the delivery is over, most parents feel a sudden burst of energy once the baby has arrived.  The real work of taking care of a new baby has just begun.  Dad it is important that you bond with your newborn, especially, if mom plans on breastfeeding.  Check out: “15 Tips for Dad to Bond With Their Newborn Baby.”

Dad how did you hold up during delivery?