Responsibilities of partners during pregnancy and childbirth

In the seventies, a partner's role in the birthing and pregnancy process was finally brought to where it belonged: next to the mother. With the advent of the Bradley birthing methods, fathers were finally given something important to do. They became "coaches" for the birthing event, and their need to be needed was fulfilled. Giuditta Tornetta.

Yet, the nine long months ahead of the due date, most men really have no concept of how women feel physically and emotionally during this time. The French have a word for unlicked children (raised without motherly affection), insinuating that they often become a menace to the society because they can’t empathize. Even in many African communities where there are many single mothers, the old African adage applies: ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ Raising children begins from pregnancy stage and the mothers-to-be need all the support they can get either from partners, husbands, doulas or other support network accessible to them. This week’s episode will help make sense of why it is necessary for partners be fully involved and how to create a safe and friendly environment for the mother-to-be and the child during pregnancy and childbirth.