Pain In Childbirth Is Not ‘The Problem’

Dear DIYFather-to-be:

The greatest fear that men have about childbirth is the pain. Pain at any other time of life is connected to: illness, injury and possibly death. It’s very difficult for many people to fully understand that pain in childbirth is unique and must be treated differently.

Here’s the good news:

• There is no medical problem in childbirth that is associated with pain. Pain is part of the natural process of letting a very big object out of a body no matter how much it hurts.
• You and your pregnant partner can learn pain management skills so together you can work with your baby’s efforts to come down, through and out of her body.
• The pain is connected to opening the cervix. It is the management of this pain that makes the difference in how both of you view birth for years afterwards. With skills you can feel wonderful about your combined abilities. Without skills both of you can feel overwhelmed.