Time seems to be very slow the first few months... After mid point, time start to pick up speed and before you know it, due date is just around the corner.
As a Dad or husband, you will be asking what should I be preparing? Most guide online tell you about what a mom or pregnant lady going through but they fail to tell you what a dad/husband should be prepare for. Well, from experience, here it is:
1. Transport director
Be prepare with your car, or transport to the hospital. Check your petrol/gas to ensure it is at least half full.Check backup car or driver, just in case, for a small chance that your vehicle is not operating at that very crucial moments. This is where your neighbor are your best bet.
Do note also, route to hospital is crucial. Must have at least three routes to the hospital. If you are even paranoid, you can even have a backup hospital in case it is really really too late.
Recently, my wife EDD expected due date came and it was very close to the famous Thaipusam festival. If you are in Penang, you will know when this happen, the roads nearby the Botanical Garden will be closed down. And mine hospital is Penang Adventist. With the road close, we had to use alternative route. And my GPS is on standby as well. Lucky, my little one came out after the festival.
2. Banker
When your baby is due and you arrived at the hospital. Wife will go to examine in delivery room or emergency room or at your prenatal check's doctor to ensure it is real contraction and you however will be rush to the cashier / admission counter. You will be require to pay the full payment of 3 days 2 night stay package before you even see the delivery suite. If you visiting your OG GY/ prenatal doctor, make sure you tell nurse, you need to see doctor as you suspect real contraction is happening. You'll get priority first.Things to prepare:
- Your identification card (IC or passport for foreigner)
- Wife identification card (IC or passport for foreigner)
- 2 credit cards ( in case one is over the limit)
- O&G prenatal checkup Appointment card
3. Massager ( Masseur)
During labor, while your wife having contraction pain, for some reason, when baby is been squeeze by contraction, it is pushing against your wife's back. Her back will be in extreme pain. Your job? Your job is to massage her back the whole time she is having contraction. This is extremely reliving for your wife.This is your almost only contribution as a loving husband.
4. Motivator
Focus on her breathing
This is really crucial during the 1st and 2nd phase of labor. Once she feel pain, she will naturally tense up her whole body. This does not help but causes more pain for her. What you can do is breath long deep breath with her. Ask her to focus on her breath. This relieve the pain better than the laughing gas.
Reassure her
Confirm her confidence. "you can do it" "you can handle it" and last stage is always the famous "I can see the baby's hair, continue pushing"
On this item, I must confess, the mid-wife did a wonderful job here. She keeps reassure her that she can do it, It's almost done. I believe a mid-wife attitude and support is very important for a delivery. Mid-wife was there from 10am till 7pm, but doctor only comes in for the last 30mins.
Doctor for skill in completing it, and mid-wife for motivator and the friend you need during the long hours of labor. I must compliment that Penang Adventist Hospital's mid-wife for being very supportive, very helpful throughout the labor. Thanks, you all have made our life much better. :)
Last but not least, relax and enjoy the process. Be cool and calm. Go to hospital around 10mins apart contraction if your hospital is within half an hour away. Even then, there are plenty of time. Even if your wife's water bursted, you still have 24 hours to deliver the baby. So no rush, take slow and steady drive. Safe for baby, your wife and everyone else on the road. Also, always consult your doctor as your doctor know your wife best.
Happy delivery!
Leave comment if anything is unclear.
Hope this have been helpful for you.
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