728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Fatherhood › Postpartum Dad

Postpartum Dad

Helping With Labor, Delivery and Baby's Homecoming

By Carma Haley

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

"During labor, my wife was having a great deal of pain," says Carlton Stell, a father of four from Petersburg, Va. "I was kind of worried and scared for her, but remembered her telling me all about what would be happening during the delivery. I did all the things she wanted or needed me to do so she could concentrate on bringing our baby into the world. I let our families know, got the overnight bag, called the hospital, checked her in, helped her breathe and just held her hand. She did great – and I didn't do so bad either."

Coming Home
Once the new family member arrives, the time and pain expended during labor is quickly forgotten and joy and happiness takes hold. However, it doesn't take long before the reality of the situation sets in, often bringing back the uneasy, fearful and uncertain feelings of before. "First-time parents often get scared when shortly after the birth of their new baby they realize they are parents, but have no idea how to care for him/her," says Deutsch. "These feelings are normal and often affect the mother more severely than the father."

After the birth of their first child, Keven Garrett's wife worried she wouldn't be a good mom. "She cried and was very upset at times. She would tell me that maybe she wasn't a good mother, because she didn't always know what the baby needed when he would cry," says Garrett, a construction worker from Worthington, Ohio. "To be honest,I didn't know what to do to help her, but I kept assuring her that she was a good mother and that no matter what the baby needed, I had confidence that she would be more than able to give it to him – she just needed to trust her instincts."


Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.