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Experts explained the role of men in partner childbirth

Psychologist Kopp: joint childbirth should be a conscious decision
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Photo: Global Look Press/N. Hochheimer/CHROMORANGE
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Joint childbirth requires an informed approach and a clear division of roles between partners to support a woman. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Psychological readiness of the couple

Family psychologist Dmitry Kopp emphasizes that joint childbirth should be a conscious decision of two adults, and not following trends from social networks. Psychological preparation begins with an honest answer to the question about the purpose of a man's presence in the hospital. If a partner goes there from the position of "I want to be a support," the chances of a healthy experience increase, while the uncertainty of goals can turn the process into a stress test for the relationship.

According to the expert, hidden conflicts or fears, such as fear of blood or responsibility, may be revealed during the preparation process. If you don't discuss these feelings in advance, they can manifest themselves in the delivery room through irritation or emotional disconnection. Kopp recommends that the couple discuss the roles in advance, where the man acts as an assistant, rather than a spectator or controller.

"A man can be at a woman's head, hold her hand, talk to her, help her breathe, call staff, provide water. He is not obliged to observe the physiological details if he is not ready. It doesn't make him weak or diminish his paternity," Kopp said.

When a partner is escorted out of the room

Natalia Donskova, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Olympus Clinic MARS, notes the increased interest in partner childbirth and emphasizes that this format is possible only if safety conditions are met. Maternity hospitals have clear rules, including the availability of necessary documents and examinations. The presence of a partner is unacceptable if they have signs of infectious diseases, such as fever, cough or acute respiratory viral infections, which can be dangerous for newborns and staff.

There are clinical situations where the presence of a partner should be stopped for medical reasons. This applies to emergency operations such as cesarean section, as well as cases of bleeding or a sharp deterioration in the condition of the mother or fetus. In such conditions, the medical team focuses on protecting the life and health of patients, and any extraneous interference is eliminated.

"If a complication occurs, the medical team does not cancel the couple's dream, but protects the life and health of the mother and child. The presence of a trained partner can really make childbirth easier for a woman," Donskova explained.

Restoring intimacy and fatherhood

To preserve healthy intimacy after joint childbirth, Kopp advises not to idealize the process and not to rush back to sexual life. The psychologist also recommends that the couple not hush up their experiences, but discuss their fears and confusion without recrimination. Intimacy is restored faster if a man is involved in child care and does not put pressure on a woman, giving her time to rest and recover.

As Kopp noted, paternal affection is formed not only at the time of the birth of a child or the cutting of the umbilical cord. The quality of fatherhood is determined by regular participation in the baby's life, willingness to calm down, change diapers and provide support to the mother. Partner childbirth is just one of the possible formats of participation, and their absence does not prevent a man from becoming an inclusive and caring parent.

Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»

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