This is a very interesting article and topic. I wonder if the type of birth
experience influences how men feel.
I think one of points the article misses is that physiological childbirth is
a sexual event (and I don't mean sexually stimulating). It involves the same
hormones, parts of the body, noises etc. Men notice this eg. my friend's
husband pointed out that she looked like she was 'coming' during labour -
she responded by swearing and banishing him to another room (it was a
homebirth).
I think the mixture of their partner's body and the medical/surgical setting
could cause problems. My husband hates hospital and found the environment
during my first birth stressful. Second baby was born at home and he was
much more relaxed. At home men can also 'get away' if they need to - it is
their house, they can go into the kitchen etc = more control over what they
see. I have seen many a man trapped in the delivery room, desperately trying
to avoid seeing the placenta or perineum etc.
Another friends husband had problems sexually after seeing her in stirrups
being sutured. I suture without stirrups and draps because I think it has an
impact on both the woman and partners.
The impact of witnessing birth is probably dependent on the birth experience
and the individual couple.
Rachel
From: Andrea Robertson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Subject: [ozmidwifery] Men at births
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 10:55:37 +1000
This is an interesting report in today's Sydney Morning Herald. I remember
Michel Odent talking about research done in the US that explored the effect
on a couple's sexual relationship when the man had been exposed to the
birth process. Michel was advocating that women might want to retain some
of their "sexual mystery" by excluding men from the birth room. I have been
at births where I wondered how the father was taking the sight of a
practitioner cutting an episiotomy.....
What does everyone think about this?
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/08/30/1125302566185.html
Regards,
Andrea
-----
Andrea Robertson
Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
web: www.birthinternational.com
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