Why are women with partners more likely to opt for drugs in labor? - Page 4

[Juvysen]

Originally Posted by GoBecGo 

The Michel Odent article is an interesting one.  One of the reasons he gives is that men seem territorial and stressed - he doesn't seem to recognise that he makes these observations from a position between the man's partner's thighs!  He also doesn't advocate male Ob's not being around for labour.  I think he is a wonderful intelligent man and has made many fabulous observations in the cause of normal birth, but i also think he is human and also can be a victim of subjectivity.  How many UPing women report their husband was territorial and stressed during their births?  It's such an intimate situation, and very hard for ANYone to negotiate, male or female.  How is the husband supposed to act when another man gives his partner a VE which obviously causes her pain? How is he meant to act when he sees his partner in pain and feels he is being observed by the strangers who staff the hospital they are at?  

Actually, AFAIK, he does advocate for no male ob's and even gave up practicing because he believed his being male was a hindrance to the birth process...

[carrierwright]

I would be interested to see biases/controls, etc in such a study. If you look at Bradley birth stats for instance you'll see that the presence of the husband who has been prepared to help his wife in labor for at least 3 months prior to birth, their rates for unmedicated vaginal deliveries is over 85%, which I would argue is much much improved when compared to the rest of the nation. Be interested in looking it over ~Perhaps the difference is preparation.