The open delivery room: the husband's presence at childbirth
Szeverényi, P.; Körösi, T.; Lampe, L.
Orvosi Hetilap 128(32): 1677-1682
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6002 PMID: 3614926 Document Number: 291741
The authors present data of 139 deliveries where the husband was present. The couples desiring to give birth to their child together were mainly of higher education and of higher socio-economical status. The authors relate the methods of prenatal emotional and physical preparation of the husband as well as the wife applied primarily to relive fears. The average period of first stage in the study group was 6 hrs 5 min; the incidence of operative delivery was 2.9%. The couples completed a questionnaire on their experiences 5-6 months after the childbirth. Of the women 95,9% found her husband's presence reassuring, and comforting. Of the husbands 88,5% felt that their presence had a beneficial effect on the condition of his wife. Of the wives 67,2% and of the husbands 75,4% felt that as a result of the husband's participation in this important event he became a "better" father. The great majority (95,9%) of the interviewed couples wished to give birth to their next baby together again. Of the basis of data in the literature as well as their own experiences the authors suggest that the practice of managing deliveries with the father being present, i.e. family-centered obstetric practice should be encouraged.