170-171 / 258
Do I really need to invite anyone
besides my partner into the
labour room while I deliver?
Technically you don’t need anything besides your vagina and
your doctor in the delivery room. But unless you’ve got a medical
reason for your partner not to be in the delivery room, or if you’ve
used a sperm donor, then you’ll most likely want the guy who
knocked you up to be bedside for the whole graphic and insane
process of giving birth. Any other attendees are just extras.
If you’ve always dreamed of having your mum in there with you,
then make sure to talk to your partner about this well in advance.
He could have other ideas about the delivery room guest list. You
get the right of first refusal, after all these are your private parts
on display, not his, and if the idea of having your father-in-law in
the delivery room gives you the heebie-jeebies, then your baby
can wait to meet grandpa after all of the labour business is over.
If you do want an entourage whilst you’re giving birth, check with
the hospital to make sure they allow such a thing. Find out their rules
about maximum capacity and any other guidelines they put forth.
Bringing your healthy child into this world should be your and your
partner’s priority. If grandma’s feelings get hurt, then she’ll need to
learn to grow a thicker skin.
My partner keeps saying “we’re pregnant”
and it’s bugging the heck out of me. How
do I nicely tell him to stop?
You must admit it’s kind of cute when your partner boasts to a
passer-by: “We’re pregnant!” No? Not doing it for you? It’s better
than the alternative, which would be him telling people it’s not his
baby and running the other way when you and your big bump
came barrelling over, right?
I’m pretty sure your partner knows that he’s not carrying around
a human life in his belly, only to squeeze it out of one of his tiny
orifices in nine month’s time, but if you feel like digging your
fingernails into his arm every time he utters the phrase “we’re
pregnant” then a talk is in order.
Be honest with him and tell him simply, we are not pregnant, I
am. If you need to spell it out, do so gently and point out: We
are not puking every three hours, I am. We are not having to wee
every hour, on the hour like clockwork. We are not busting out of
our jeans or having trouble tying our shoes. Yes, you are going to
be a father and your life is about to change in so many exciting
ways. But for now let’s just stick with phrases like: I’m going to be
a daddy. We’re having a baby. My wife is pregnant. I’m in awe of
my amazing wife and the miracle of pregnancy.