Earth Babies Blog

What are your thoughts on fathers attending births?
Dr Michel Odent has come out in saying he feels men should not attend births which in many aspects I get what he is saying – I think he is looking from a wider experience observing the dynamics of many births, whereas we react from our personal births.

I cannot however agree that all men should not attend births. – I dont think there should be a cut and dried ‘ruling’ on this. I think it should be the fathers choice and this choice should be respected – if they want to be there, they should not be rejected or blocked out BUT if they do not want to be there they should not be forced or guilted into being there.

A birth space needs positive and calm energy present in order for the mother to be able to focus on herself and the birth and not be distracted by or worry about how others are coping.

My husband was a great support. I cannot imagine birthing without him present for me and also for himself, but I do feel there is some truth in what the Dr says.
My first birth was at a birthing unit (everything already there and organised). Hub and the midwife were with me from start of labour (induced), it was in terms of support a very positive experience.
2nd birth was a homebirth with just my husband and myself and at the very end the midwives – also wonderful but I missed that nurtured feeling – we were in such a ‘get ready’ mode that I never got time to actually focus on the birth or feel looked after – I would definitely have a doula if there was ever a next homebirth. So though I feel my husband was there and involved his constant questions about arb things were a distraction to me (my own fault I was too relaxed and not organised enough to make it smooth running).

ARTICLE LINKS:

Men must give labour a wide berth, says obstetrician Michel Odent

“For many years, I haven’t been able to speak openly about my views that the presence of a father in a delivery room is not only unnecessary but also hinders labour.

and a rather scathing blog reply to this:
Stop telling women how to give birth
(which I personally feel is a little misinformed in terms of the assumptions made about the doctor in question). I do agree with this though – educating better on what to expect and what to do and not do would help men contribute and support in birth in a positive manner,

Surely it would be better to teach his patients more about the process of labour, and the mucky grittiness of it so they are fully prepared mentally for when it does happen rather than just blaming men?

A quick Biography on Dr Michel Odent from Midwifery Today

Michel Odent, MD, has been influencing the history of childbirth and health research for several decades. As a practitioner he developed the maternity unit at Pithiviers Hospital in France in the 1960s and 1970s. With six midwives, he was in charge of about one thousand births a year and achieved excellent statistics with low rates of intervention. Odent is familiarly known as the obstetrician who introduced the concept of birthing pools and home-like birthing rooms. His approach has been featured in eminent medical journals such as The Lancet and in TV documentaries such as the BBC film Birth Reborn. After his hospital career he practiced homebirths. Odent’s 21st-century books (The Scientification of Love, The Farmer and the Obstetrician and The Caesarean) may be regarded as a trilogy. They raise urgent questions about the future of our civilizations.
Odent is a contributing editor to Midwifery Today magazine.