When your partner is getting ready to give birth for the first time, Dads or significant others may not know what to expect or how to be involved or even wonder how much their being involved makes a difference. Studies prove that when fathers or partners are involved before, during and after a baby’s birth there are numerous benefits to the mom and the baby.
Holly Menino sat down with Hollie Wharton, DNP, CNM, WHNP, a midwife and nurse practitioner at Intermountain Alta View Women’s Clinic on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast. Together, they discuss the important role of partners during and after childbirth.
 Benefits of Father/Partner Involvement

Mother more likely to have early, regular prenatal care
Parents more likely to attend pre/postnatal classes
Mother more likely to breastfeed, continue breastfeeding
Maternal smoking and alcohol abuse rates reduced
Reduced anxiety
 Less perceived pain
 Greater satisfaction with the birth experience
 Lower rates of postnatal depression
 Lower rates of premature birth and infant mortality
 Father more likely to take an active role
 Father feels empowered rather than helpless

A childbirth preparation class can help prepare you and your partner for labor and delivery
Intermountain Healthcare hospitals offer one-day options on Saturdays or one evening a week for a few weeks. They can help you know what to expect during labor and what to expect at the hospital and how to prepare.
To find Intermountain childbirth classes, call the hospital where you plan to deliver or visit your hospital’s website or click here.
10 things labor partners can help with:

 Help monitor/coach partner thru contractions.
Ask mom what you can do to help make her comfortable and support her (distraction, touch, breathing, music, pain relief, etc.).
 Be her advocate and get to know the staff – you are part of the team.
Understand what she’s going through is hard, exhausting and things don’t always go as planned. Be open to changes that may occur.
 Encourage and support her through each stage. Sometimes just sitting next to her can be enough of support.
Offer to hold her leg during pushing if necessary.
Ask to be involved with process (cutting umbilical cord, helping with delivery).
Enjoy the miracle of birth and your new baby.
Participate in skin-to-skin with your baby to start bonding.
Make sure to ask questions if you have them. We can accommodate you and your partner within reason. Feel comfortable enough to speak your thoughts.

 The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.