The First Trimester of Pregnancy: The Pregnant Father Health Article

The third trimester may be more difficult than the first and second trimesters, with the intensification of the physical changes happening to your partner. This is a time for both you and your partner to learn as much as possible about the labor and delivery process, possibly through a childbirth class. While your partner's body is going through the final adjustments to prepare for labor and delivery, she may not be able to perform some of the routine tasks that she could do earlier in the pregnancy. Your role in preparing for the birth may increase as the delivery time approaches.

Childbirth Classes

Childbirth classes are designed to prepare you and your partner for everything that might happen during labor and delivery. A few features you might want to look for when choosing a childbirth class are:

• at least 12 hours of instruction with emphasis on skills practice (positioning and relaxation), comfort measures, and class discussion;
• small classes with six to 12 couples;
• an instructor with certification from a nationally recognized certification program;
• a curriculum that supports birth as a normal, natural, and healthy process and encourages making informed choices about the care given during the delivery process; and
• class content that includes normal labor and birth, early postpartum, positioning for labor and delivery, relaxation and massage techniques to ease pain, labor support, information about medical procedures, and breast feeding.

Remember to ask lots of questions during class. The more you learn and understand, the better you will be able to help your partner relax and concentrate on delivering the baby. Your healthcare provider should be able to help you find childbirth classes in your area.

Lamaze

Probably the most well recognized and popular of all the childbirth classes, Lamaze emphasizes stretching, relaxation, and conditioning. The father receives special instructions on how to help "coach" his partner through labor. Probably the most well known aspect of Lamaze is the "pant-blow" technique of breathing, which controls pushing during the final stages of labor. The Lamaze philosophy of birth states that:

• birth is a normal process;
• women's inner wisdom guides them through birth;
• birth can safely take place in birth centers and at home;
• childbirth education empowers women to make informed choices in healthcare, to assume responsibility for their health, and to trust their inner wisdom; and
• the experience of birth profoundly affects women and their families.

The Dick-Read Method

Generally, women in their third trimester are encouraged not to sleep on their backs. When you are on your back, your heavy uterus can reduce blood flow to the uterus and fetus.. Most women aren't comfortable lying flat on their backs during the third trimester. Most experts, including The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), recommend sleeping on your side. The left side is considered the best choice because the uterus naturally rotates to the right during pregnancy and left-sided laying will bring it more to the center and improve blood flow. A pillow placed between your legs and/or a long body pillow to support your back are often helpful.

The Bradley Method

Developed by Dr. Robert Bradley in the late-1940s, this approach emphasizes diet, exercise, deep breathing techniques, and a natural approach to childbirth. Bradley believed that a woman should not try to distract her attention away from the pain she is feeling during childbirth. If she feels like yelling, she is encouraged to yell. Nearly 90% of women who use the Bradley method deliver their babies without medication.

Before the Time Comes

Unless labor is being induced or a cesarean delivery is planned, you will probably not know when labor will start. Make sure to have a bag packed for both of you in plenty of time before you have to leave for the hospital. Some things to include when packing your bag:

• change of clothes;
• camera;
• comfort items for labor;
• comfortable shoes;
• a watch with a second hand;
• phone book and change for pay phones; and
• a little gift for your partner.

Important Decisions

During labor and delivery, you and your partner may have neither time nor the ability to think clearly about such important issues as:

• the use of pain medication;
• the use of medication to speed up labor and delivery (oxytocin, Pitocin); and
• the types of fetal monitoring used.

Take the time now to talk about what you and your partner want. Let your doctor know in advance how you feel. In the intense moments of labor and delivery, it will likely be you who needs to communicate your partner's wishes to the doctor. However, it is important to remain flexible and to realize that you and your partner may change your mind during labor which is a dynamic, unpredictable process.

As the big day approaches, go back over all the things you learned about your growing baby and the changes that took place within your partner. Appreciate the time you took to get involved with the pregnancy-going to prenatal appointments, taking over household chores, and attending childbirth classes. All the little things you do to prepare for the birth of your baby are worth it when you are there to witness the delivery and start the next phase of fatherhood.