Dads, how did you feel while your wife was giving birth?

My wife is a labor assistant and there are times when she is speaking to a new couple who are about to have a baby and the dad looks terrified. I thought that if I could relate some personal experiences of other dads and myself then these fathers to be wouldn鈥檛 be so scared.
How did you feel while your wife was in labor? How did you feel when the baby was born? What did you do to relax or did you even do anything at all? Where you scared? Did you pray? Where there complications? How did it make you feel when you where pushed aside and the nurses took over? Did you feel out of your element?
I鈥檓 sure any answers you can give me will help future dads to be.
Thank-you in advance for your help.

When Jgirl went into labor I first felt panic. No matter how many children you have can prepare you for what is comming because each time is different. Serenity (our daughter) is my third child. This was the first time there was any complications. At first everything seemed to be fine. Then when the labor was going too long they had to break her water. This did not do what they intended and then Serenity started to go into distress. The doctor decided to go C-Section. Once this is in motion things get very confusing because nobody explains what is going to happen. I don't know if it is because they are trying protect you or that they don't have time. I was so scared for Jgirl and Serenity. Once in the OR the anesthesiologist did talk both to Jgirl and myself. My entire purpose at that point was to calm Jgirl and try to keep her attention away from the situation as much as possible. That was the only time that the anxioety was reduced what so ever. The one mistake I made was looking over the curtain to see what was going on. I am not a squemish person but seeing what I saw over the curtain did affect me quite abit. I think it is because of who it was and not what it was. Once Serenity was out they immediatly took her to an incubator type device and were making sure she was fine. Neither Jgirl or I had a chance to see her. The first time that we were able to see her was once we were back in the room and the nursing staff brought her to us. The one thing that I can say about the birth of all of my children that was the same is the feeling that you have once your child is born. It is hard to explain what that feeling is. It is the most wonderful heart felt emotion that you could ever have. It also is the only time that everyone in the same room has the same feeling at the same exact time. The only advice that I can give any about to be father is that no matter what happens remain as calm as possible. Your spouse is relying on you more than you know. The more calm and collected you are the better she will feel.

im not a dad lol but i found ur question so intrestin theres not many dads-2-b that ask questionsbut i fink wot u wrote woz good!!!

This is a very good thread you are trying to start. I am 22 weeks pregnant, and I have noticed that when I read stories aloud to my husband about the delivery/labor process that he seems worried. I feel that he is worried about the fact that I do not deal with pain well, and I think he is nervous about how I will handle it all. I guess we'll find out how it goes in about 18 more weeks! ;)
But again, bravo for trying to help future dads to be sort out their concerns about it all.

good question.. i'd love to know the answers too... star!

nervous,wow,you will faint,excited

sorry to be a mom answering this, but my hubby fainted when they gave me the epidural for my first vaginal delivery :)
After that, I tried to keep him as far away from the business end of labor and delivery as I could :)