First time Dad!! Advice for Blokes for the birthing process?

[Three Graces]

Hi,

I agree with everything already posted. Our doula runs a 'beer and bubs' session in Melb (they're run througout the country) which are just for dads/dads to be.


The only thing that i can add is to maybe have a signal between you and your DW (for when/if she can't talk) that you work out beforehand. I really wished when I was induced with our first that I'd told my husband 'if I'm tapping a finger during a contraction, it means shut up, shut up MW and anybody else who is in the room'. I was limited to one word requests inbetween contractions and couldn't talk much, and internalised/meditated through most of it. I found that being quiet, the staff would just start up a conversation with DH, as if I wasn't in the room, concentrating really hard through each contraction. I did manage a few 'shut ups', but told him for future births to keep an eye on my finger and to get the MW to stop talking about CD's and music etc.
Also, when you're 'allowed' to talk, give lots and lots and lots of encouragement.
Good luck with it all