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Labor Nurse Reveals 5 Biggest Mistakes Men Make in the Delivery Room

A labor and delivery nurse reveals the biggest mistakes dads make in the delivery room, from Xboxes to business calls.

Labor and delivery nurse Kim Houk has revealed the five biggest mistakes men make when supporting their partners in the delivery room. With eight years of experience in the field and a hospital that delivers 7,000-8,000 babies a year, Houk is uniquely positioned to observe a wide range of paternal behaviors. While continuous support from a partner has positive effects on maternal satisfaction, some male reactions to childbirth can be awkward or off-putting.

Men have been seen attempting to use their electronic devices in the delivery room, answering questions intended for their partners, and even displaying inappropriate sexual behavior. Houk emphasizes that the father's role is to support and advocate for their pregnant partner, rather than to control or distract her. She advises dads to have a general understanding of their partner's birth plan and to provide physical comfort and emotional support.

Creating a calm environment and refraining from complaining about inconveniences is also crucial for a successful delivery experience.

Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

Read the original at newsweek.com →

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