People Who Have Watched Their Partner Give Birth Describe What It Was Really Like
For couples who want to have children, the actual child-birthing process might be one of the most trying experiences the couple will ever go through together.
But while many of us think of the process of pushing and the physical messes of birthing the baby, there's actually a lot more to it, and the partners who witness their other half giving birth tend to remember far more about the experience than just the blood.
Redditor Asleep-Awareness5249 asked:
"Men who have watched their wives/partners give birth, what was that like?"
Hilarious Moments
"My wife cussed out the doctor. I was glad we were forced to wear face masks because I was cackling when she would let him have it in-between pushes."
- OkVolume1
Inopportune Phone Calls
"My wife's phone went off during a really painful procedure, and she yelled, 'Who the f**k is calling me!!!!???'"
"But to be fair, one does not need to go thru painful procedures in order to justify saying this every time the phone rings."
- Veritas3333
Sort of Fascinating
"I was holding my wife's hand through two c-sections, the first an emergency."
"There was a low green cloth screen to stop her (and me) from seeing the actual procedure, but I'm tall, so I could see over the top anyway. Fortunately, I'm not squeamish. It was like a butcher's shop window (except very interesting)."
"They had a radio on and the first kid came out to the sound of 'First Of The Gang To Die,' which was funny."
"It all worked out well, both kids are great, a fascinating and completely exhausting experience."
- catbrane
Absolutely Not Useless
"As someone who had a 36-hour labor that ended in a c-section, I can say that having a partner there for you is a godsend. I spent so much time with my eyes closed, drifting in and out, not able to acknowledge my partner but I knew he was there the whole time."
"He was the person that knew me best out of all the strangers that popped in and out of the room. He was my advocate and anticipated what I needed before I knew I needed it."
"After, he said he felt totally useless and helpless but that couldn't be further from the truth."
- Timetogoout
The Importance of Aftercare
"You're the cheerleader in this game. F**king play your part and feel useless."
"A father's REAL test is aftercare. While your wife is recovering from childbirth, you are to do everything, and I mean f**king everything, for her that you possibly can."
"Men who don't change dirty nappies are just f**king p**s-weak men, and even more so if they brag about it."
- BlazeVenturaV2
Terribly Scary
"Am I a bad person if I say horrific? It was a c-section and seeing her knocked out like that was one of the most disturbing images I can recall. I nearly cried on the spot."
- Dyn085
Childbirth on Fast-Forward
"Our first was 13 hours, giving us a false sense of security for the second. It was only three hours."
"My wife didn't do an epidural for #1 and said, 'I didn't need to do that. I'm getting it for the next one.' So we get to the hospital and said, 'Give me the epidural.'"
"They say we need to get settled in the room. By the time we got to the room, he was coming out. There was no time for anything; the docs had to scramble."
"All things considered, both deliveries were 'fine.' It's mind-boggling that that is the best-case scenario; they were the most intense days of my life."
- thugarth
Don't Skimp on Breakfast
"My wife was going into contractions but they were pretty far apart, so we drive down to the hospital, stopping for Egg McMuffins along the way. I dropped my wife off at the receiving area for delivery with some nurses and the midwife and then I went back out to move the car because I was in a 15-minute parking area."
"While I was moving the car, I looked at that Egg McMuffin I hadn't been able to eat yet and was like, 'I totally have hours before this baby comes out. I should eat this sandwich now and not like, in the delivery room as my wife was trying to push a baby out.'"
"So I ate the sandwich, moved the car, and went up to the delivery room."
"At the reception desk there, one of the nurses said, 'I think your wife just had a baby.'"
"And was like, 'Nah, you must be mistaken. I just arrived. WE HAVE HOURS.'"
"So I went to the delivery room and there was my son, fresh as could be, and my exhausted wife who had just given birth."
- doublerapscallion
A Traumatic Experience
"My wife was in labor for about 35 hours. When we got to the point where she was ready to push, my son’s heart rate started to plummet."
"We went from a single midwife in the hospital room with us, encouraging and owning the whole process, to a team of doctors (about 10 people) who came to help within two minutes. They performed an episiotomy and had to pull my kid out with forceps and the vacuum."
"My wife lost about 1.5 liters of blood, and I remember sitting there watching all of this and thinking they would both die and my whole world was crashing around me. She looked like a ghost and he looked like a bloody, bleeding little alien when he came out. They rushed him to the NICU and gave him oxygen."
"My son is now almost 3 years old, my wife made a full recovery, and they are both the best people I know. It can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved, but f**k me if I don’t look back on it and remember what a warrior she was and what a fighter he is."
- upark88
New Admiration
"I saw a strength in my wife I don't think either of us knew she had. It was an incredible experience, and I was so proud of my wife and child. I'm glad they still keep me around."
- Druzl
Feeling Irrelevant
"This is really my experience in the maternity ward. You are 'dad' and you will carry bag and get water. Not because you are actually needed to carry these bags that could fit on this cart, or get the water from the sink over there that literally takes more time to explain where the cups are."
"But you need a job to keep you occupied, so get moving."
"I've never been so 'handled' before in my life, and I knew it was happening, but f**k if I was going to mess up the process and make them focus on anything besides my wife and kids."
"Nurses are the most amazing, and most evil things ever."
- mwbbrown
New Appreciation for Life
"With our firstborn, I had three primary thoughts:"
"1. Thank god for modern medicine, or both my wife and son would be dead."
"2. My wife is a godd**n warrior."
"3. I have a whole new appreciation for my own mother."
"Every birth is a medical emergency, and every successful birth is a miracle. Simple as that to me."
"A planned c-section for our second was much smoother."
- leftcoastbias24
Lonely and Helpless
"The loneliest and most helpless feeling in the world. She had to undergo an emergency C-section and went under shortly after they started. The head doctor made the call to not let me in the room, so I was stuck watching through a small window."
"The little man came out purple and not breathing and my wife was limp. For about five minutes, nobody came out to speak to me and I was quite certain both of them were dead."
"Then I heard him scream and cry and one of the nurses rushed him over to my wife and held him against her cheek. Shortly after that, the nurse handed him to me and said that both my wife and him were perfectly healthy. To say it was the largest range of emotions my mind and body had ever experienced is an understatement."
"We felt like we were prepared for anything during labor, but the emergency c-section really threw us off. Happened so fast. Luckily everything worked out, but it was pretty scary for a while there."
- AdvancedGentleman
Something Out of an '80s Movie
"It's kind of like the movie 'Aliens' but entirely based around a vagina."
- Digreth
A Message to Fathers
"So, I'm the wife. And we didn't get to take our babies home, but I delivered stillborn twins a few months ago."
"My husband said exactly the same as many fathers here, that he felt so helpless watching me give birth."
"But to me, that man standing there and holding my hand was exactly what I needed. It was both medically and emotionally traumatic, but I remember feeling calm and purposeful because I knew what needed to be done, and I knew that I was the only one who could do it."
"What I needed from him was his presence. He didn't leave me alone. He didn't run from any of it, and I think he saw more of the blood and such than I did (I was a little doped up and had my eye closed for the actual delivery)."
"I could do that, keep my eyes closed and focus on what my body was telling me, BECAUSE he was there holding my hand. I didn't need to be on high alert, because he was there. His presence and my trust in him helped me do the hardest thing I have ever done in my life."
- what_ho_puck
Whether the birthing process was really long or really short, whether it was complicated or straight-forward, many partners had shared experiences of being overwhelmed, of being proud of their wives, and of feeling like there was hardly anything they could do.
At least for the women who chimed in, though, them being there might have been the most helpful part.
Dad Forced To Deliver His Own Baby At Home With Just One Hand After His Wife Went Into Labor While He Had A Broken Thumb
A dad was forced to deliver his own baby at home using just one hand after his wife went into labor and gave birth - while his broken hand was in a cast.
Jade Brown, 24, went into labor in the middle of the night and it happened so quickly she had to give birth at home on the sofa.
Rhys Darby's left arm was in a huge plaster cast because he had just broken his thumb in three places, leaving him unable to use it at all.
But that didn't stop Rhys, 28, who safely caught baby Ariana in one had - while also juggling towels and a phone.
Paramedics arrived minutes later and Rhys quipped "I've done your job for you" before they cut the cord and took mom and baby to the hospital.
The family are now safely back home in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England - and Rhys joked changing diapers with one hand was just as hard as delivering babies one-armed.
Alex Cousins/SWNS
He said:
"I had the cast on one hand and a phone in the other - trying to deliver a baby! I was running around trying to find towels while the woman on the line was trying to give me instructions."
"I bent down and stuck my hand out and the baby just came out. The ambulance arrived two minutes later and they cut the umbilical cord. I said: 'It's alright - I've done your job for you!'"
"It's funny - Jade was adamant in the run up that she didn't want me near the business area during the birth. I should have brought my baseball glove - then it would have been fine! But it was quite scary."
Alex Cousins/SWNS
Jade said:
"I was so glad that Rhys got to be so involved with the birth of our baby girl and I am so proud of him for delivering her - especially with a cast on his arm."
"He was amazing during and after the birth and he's an amazing dad to Ariana."
Rhys broke his thumb when he fell backwards playing five-on-five soccer for the first time in six years.
His arm was put into a bright blue plaster cast from his knuckles to the middle of his forearm for eight weeks.
A week later girlfriend Jade's water broke when she bent down to pick up a sock, and they went to the hospital, but she wasn't dilated enough and they were sent home, on June 19.
Alex Cousins/SWNS
Rhys added:
"We were told to come back the next afternoon if nothing happened and they would start her off, so we went home. Jade tried to get some sleep, but by 2am the pain was overwhelming."
Jade said:
"I was trying to just breathe through [the contractions], but they were getting more intense so I went downstairs and sat with Rhys."
"I was squeezing his hand every time I got a contraction but as time went on I couldn't cope with the pain and told Rhys we needed to go to the hospital."
They called for a taxi, but when things got more serious Rhys dialed 999 and was connected to an operator who told him the ambulance was on the way.
But the situation escalated and he had to get involved.
"After a few pushes, our baby girl Ariana was born on the settee," said Jade.
"I remember lying with her on my chest and I couldn't believe how quick it all happened."
Ariana's official time of birth was 4:23am.
Alex Cousins/SWNS
Rhys said:
"Jade had no pain relief apart from a couple of paracetamol and some gas and air in the ambulance."
"I had wanted to do the honor of cutting the umbilical cord but the paramedics said I shouldn't, because of the situation."
"Apparently we were quite lucky. Lots of stuff could have gone wrong. Ariana is a miracle, really. She was conceived two months after Jade had a miscarriage."
A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service confirmed a crew attended.
First-Time Gorilla Mom At Dublin Zoo Can't Stop Cradling And Gazing Lovingly At Her Baby, And The Internet Is Totally Smitten
The Dublin Zoo just got a little more crowded. And a whole lot cuter!
One of the zoo's western lowland gorillas has given birth to a new baby. Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered, so every birth is to be celebrated.
The parents, named Kafi and Bangui, have taken to their new roles with gusto.
"Kafi is doing a fantastic job so far as a first-time mother, keeping the young baby physically close in these crucial early stages."
Said Helen Clarke-Bennett, team leader of the African Plains at the zoo.
"Bangui is proving to be an attentive father and at night has been sleeping close to Kafi and the baby."
https://t.co/SKWFonS7sk— Dublin Zoo (@Dublin Zoo) 1554724266
A big congrats to momma Kafi!
@DublinZoo Congratulations to the proud parents & to the staff— 💃🏼Gráinne O’Hagan💃🏼 (@💃🏼Gráinne O’Hagan💃🏼) 1554722563
@DublinZoo Congratulations! Wonderful photo. Is that an average birth weight?— Dee Byrne (@Dee Byrne) 1554859958
congratulations to Kafi, a magnificent and gorgeous creature, on the birth of her first baby. https://t.co/fHI1xLLIJH— susan abulhawa (@susan abulhawa) 1555161204
Kafi has been doing a great job keeping the baby close at all times. She's been very attentive, possibly a little too much.
The Dublin Zoo staff have not yet been able to inspect the baby and determine its sex. Because of this, they haven't had a chance to name it.
It's not all human superficiality though. The team is waiting for Kafi to be willing to part with her baby for a moment so they can give the baby a check-up, and ensure it's healthy.
In the meantime though, Kafi has been learning from the other mother gorillas and taking good care of the baby.
Beautiful photos! 💞💞 First-Time Gorilla Mom at Dublin Zoo Can't Stop Holding and Smiling at Her New Baby https://t.co/BTRvRAoapm— Kiss My Grits (@Kiss My Grits) 1555470971
I love how adoringly she looks at her baby. First-Time Gorilla Mom at Dublin Zoo Can't Stop Holding and Smiling at… https://t.co/uPSUYUPAIV— S. E. Peters (@S. E. Peters) 1555103126
@IrishTimes I love the way she will not let her go for long enough to allow them to see if the baby is male or fema… https://t.co/YDOJyDIONX— Misha B (@Misha B) 1555105309
As mentioned, this species of gorilla is critically endangered. It's expected that their population will have dropped 80% from 1980 to 2046 due to deforestation, hunting, and the spread of deadly diseases.
Conservation efforts are underway, but difficult. This is why new babies in protected environments are so important.
Kafi's baby is the 11th baby gorilla to be born at the zoo since the 1980s.
This has also been a proving ground for Bangui. The father of the new gorilla was brought in last year following the death of the old silverback Harry.
Bangui has taken to the alpha-male role and obviously can fulfill the breeding role.
"It helps that he came from a very good social grouping. He has seen youngsters being born. It's all very hopeful for settling in with our group. It's a high-pressure job."
Clarke-Bennett said.
We'll see how the parents handle their child when it gets older.
@people Ah! You just wait till he/she is a sassy toddler mummy Kafi. Mine told me her *legs hurt* when I asked her… https://t.co/bKJbb6ZdyK— Victoria Jude (@Victoria Jude) 1554896441
When the zoo does have the chance to find out the baby's sex, they plan to have a naming contest. Let's just hope they don't leave the whole thing up to the internet, or it'll end up as "Gorilla McGorillaFace" or "Harambe".
Great Dane Gives Birth To An Adorable Litter Of 19 Puppies At Arizona Animal Hospital
In the Disney film, 101 Dalmatians, Perdita gives birth to a litter of 15 puppies. This seems excessive and a little unbelievable, even for a cartoon, right?
Except now, a real life Great Dane has given birth to a litter of 19 puppies!
Take that, Disney!
The dog named Cleo in Kingman, Arizona had to go into the Kingman Animal Hospital to deliver her litter. The staff performed a C Section to deliver all the animals.
A litter of Great Danes is often between eight and ten puppies, so doubling that number could have been disastrous for Cleo. Thankfully, the staff says all the puppies were delivered without any complications.
The hospital posted photos showing the adorable babies and Cleo in the treatment area, after the procedure had been completed.
The puppies were bottle fed every three hours while the team waited for the mother to recover from the procedure. The dog did not belong to the hospital, though the Facebook post did not specify who then owned the animal.
This isn't the first time a Great Dane has given birth to such a large litter. In 2014, the dog Snowy gave birth to a litter of equal size in Pennsylvania.
As for the largest litter ever, the Guinness Book of Records claims the largest litter of dogs is 24. They were born to a UK mastiff named Tia on November 29th, 2004.
Since the dogs belonged to a private individual, there is no comment at this time about selling them to interested persons, despite many comments asking precisely that.
It's hard to blame people for asking though. These are some really cute dogs.
As of Monday, the puppies and the mother were all in good health. They will be back in the hospital for a check up on their health at a later date. And if the owners find their hands full with the pups, I'm sure some very willing volunteers can help.
Pregnant Giraffe Surprises Disney World Safari Guests By Going Into Labor Right In Front Of Them 😮
A group of guests at Disney's Animal Kingdom got a little more magic than they bargained for when a pregnant Giraffe unexpectedly went into labor.
Most of the time, animals are ushered back to their private enclosures to give birth, but if labor comes on unexpectedly, it can result in dramatic experiences like this one caught on video.
Giraffe In Labor on Kilimanjaro Safaris - Animal Kingdom youtu.be
Giraffe being born in Disney https://t.co/hfP1AbOo6Y— BL | Mr. Purple (@BL | Mr. Purple) 1547480893.0
The Kilimanjaro Safari closed shortly after the birth.
Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom is temporarily closed after a giraffe gave birth to a calf on the sa… https://t.co/NaXaY0fqXX— Ashley Carter (@Ashley Carter) 1547502748.0
In an Instagram post from WDW News Today, they wrote:
"We interrupt this regularly scheduled Monday to bring you A LIVE BIRTH AT KILIMANJARO SAFARIS. That's right! A sweet giraffe mama is currently giving birth on the savanna. They tried bringing her backstage, but she just wants to chill tbh."
@UberFacts Awww! Wow! What a TRUE Disney Experience!— Angela H. Evans (@Angela H. Evans) 1547697680.0
According to Heavy, a typical giraffe birth can last anywhere from "30 minutes to two hours."
@TravelLeisure These are the kinds of unique experiences I love to have when traveling!— travelwithclem (@travelwithclem) 1547686895.0
Fans weren't sure whether or not they wished they were there.
*Me, Emilija and Andy can’t see the safari at Disney world because it’s too cold* 2 days later: A GIRAFFE GIVES BIR… https://t.co/JdRu6F6PVs— mmm. (@mmm.) 1547517227.0
@abcactionnews I guess that's worth the outrageous price for admission...😉— Dan the man (@Dan the man) 1547572390.0
Interesting day today, while on vacation, this branch of @Empties4Paws while at Disney Animal Kingdom, actually saw… https://t.co/v0rKJ9jRPB— Empties for Paws - Barrhaven and Area (@Empties for Paws - Barrhaven and Area) 1547499988.0
Nature is amazing, and cute https://t.co/H7a87Uw4qs— Empties for Paws - Barrhaven and Area (@Empties for Paws - Barrhaven and Area) 1547500150.0
@murderedsrt8 @UberFacts I’ve got friends that were on it when it happened and took photos/videos of it. So cool!— Scott Campbell (@Scott Campbell) 1547698639.0
NOW AVAILABLE - EPISODE 157 - 38 MINUTES OF EXTREMELY UP-CLOSE GIRAFFE BIRTH AUDIO https://t.co/AdcfbfzAbD— Backside of Magic (@Backside of Magic) 1547539563.0
It seems Disney is overflowing with new Giraffes!
ICYMI: Giraffe born yesterday afternoon at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's the third such birth in past 6 months.… https://t.co/1BqhGrtuNq— Dewayne Bevil (@Dewayne Bevil) 1547565893.0
The Kilimanjaro Safari has reportedly been closed for the last several days, though it's unclear whether or not this is due to the giraffe birth. Disney hasn't issued any statement announcing when the ride will reopen.
One thing is for sure: there won't be many guests having such an exciting ride for quite a while!
Had an amazing weekend with my girl went to every Disney park in 1 day ,went airboat riding ,seen a Giraffe give bi… https://t.co/W26JqvvaSt— Śoł (@Śoł) 1547516945.0