Bengaluru: A study published this week in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has revealed that an increasing number of men are choosing to be physically present while their wives or partners are giving birth to their child. While the practice is now there in our country too, it hadn’t caught on like other things until recently as most husbands seemed to prefer to wait outside the labour ward for the ‘good news’.
It was nearly surprising when it was reported that popular that popular Bollywood director Farah Khan had husband Shirish Kunder her beside when she gave birth to triplets in 2008. South Indian actors Krishna Kumar (Malayalam) and Sarath Kumar (Tamil) too have been with their wives, Sindhu and Radhika respectively, in the birth room to give them the emotional support.
However, the present generation of men seems enthusiastic about being a part of the childbirth process. Actor-model Vivan Bhatena says though he and his wife Nikhila haven’t decided about when to have a child yet, he will definitely accompany her into the labour room when the day comes. “I don’t want her to be with a complete set of strangers during such an important time of our life. I will definitely be with her to make sure she feels comfortable and more hopeful,” he says.
One reason why men stay away from the labour room is that it won’t be a pleasure to see their better-half screaming in pain, bleeding. “My friends have warned me that it will be a nightmare. But I don’t want her to feel lonely when she needs me the most,” he adds.
Rahul Rajendran, an accountant in Doha who has just become the father of a baby boy, agrees. “I was beside my wife and thanks to epidural technique, it was painless. The doctors were ready to allow either her mother or me to be with her and she chose me,” says the proud dad.
Actor Arjan Bajwa feels it is absolutely fine for the father to be part of the childbirth process. “We have evolved a lot and being a part of it can help the man understand the pain his partner is going through and watch his child enter the world. Childbirth is sacred and a miracle of life; so experiencing it together as a couple can only help bring more attachment and emotion to a marriage,” he says.
Chennai-based gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Mala Raj says witnessing the childbirth will help start the father-child bond early. “Once it’s confirmed that the wife has conceived, the first thing couples ask these days is whether the husband could be with the wife during the delivery. We always encourage this because husbands should know what his wife is going through,” she opines.
