The Birthing Hour

Throughout the history of Western Civilization fathers have had very different attitudes and approaches to childbirth and labor. This book explores these views and offers new insights for the parents who wish to redefine what it means to be involved during birth.The problem facing fathers in regards to their roles, needs, and expectations during pregnancy and birth needs to be addressed first. A good starting point is to analyze the current and extremely limited roles of coach, witness, and bystander. No distinctions are made as to where the birth takes place, and include any and all locations where the birth may happen. After the narrow views of how fathers can interact with laboring mothers are broken down - new roles are proposed that fathers may adopt or adapt. These are meant to both support the mother emotionally and to make the father more active in the pregnancy and birth process.