Okay I'm 25 I have no Clue about what to do and how to help my wife in labor. I don't know the do and the don't i need ALL THE HELP I CAN GET. My wife is do in Nov. Please Help.

Take a birthing class. Virtually every hospital has one. Not trying to be flippant. Seriously, you don't want to go into this 'medical procedure' unprepared for what you might see and/or experience.

The worst thing I 'saw' was my wife hurling (which is apparently normal during childbirth), which of course made me feel like hurling... So I can only imagine that I most certainly would have booted all over the place had I actually viewed some of the things I've heard others discuss...

Talk to the doc. Ask them what's expected of you from THEM. (Which will most likely be, pay attention to the mother and stay out of our way.) Ask your wife what she expects... which like the wedding, will simply be simple... BE THERE.

Watch the recent vid called "Cutting the Umbilical Cord" and *shameless plug* check out the Due Dads DVD, it's hilarious AND truly informative.

Good luck and welcome to the Labs!

Welcome jRabbit7000.

I think you've come to the right place. There are tons of videos here on the subject of pregnancy and birth. We've produced books and DVDs that are available on the store. Or, if you have questions, you can ask them here.

The key is to not be shy. Ask away. Lots of experienced dads here.

Congrats. You're going to do great.

There a few varieties of birthing classes

LaMaze, Bradley, your hospital.

From my experience, the class was super helpful, but my wife found more value in spending weeks on the class. I feel like I could have gotten more out of a shorter course.

A few things I got out of it was how to physically comfort my wife during labor. There is some serious pain there.

Working through some issues before hand like cutting the cord, circumcision, who will be in the room during the birth, were really helpful. Some classes advocate a birth plan to this end.

Most of all, birth is an experience we are not prepared for in our sanitized culture. All sorts of smells and fluids. One of the liabilities in the delivery room is dad, who might pass out be it from the epidural needle or the blood or something else. Knowing what might happen can better prepare you.

Thank you

I Don't have a car to go to them and its an hr bus ride to the class. My wife do not want to go to the class if there going to just be an hr or two and i cant take time off work we are just making ends meet right now. My mom is living with me and my wife and she is going to start to pay for her hafe of the bills so it will help out. We are okay with bill and i know we can make it but how do i get my wife to go to the class and how long are there? Sorry just thought you need to know ever thing so you can help me out.

I Don't have a car to go to them and its an hr bus ride to the class. My wife do not want to go to the class if there going to just be an hr or two and i cant take time off work we are just making ends meet right now. My mom is living with me and my wife and she is going to start to pay for her hafe of the bills so it will help out. We are okay with bill and i know we can make it but how do i get my wife to go to the class and how long are there? Sorry just thought you need to know ever thing so you can help me out.

Even if you can just go to one general one that lasted for a few hours, once, it would help. Check the hospital.

In absence of that, check out some online resources like: pregnancy.about.com/od/childbirtheduc/a/cbeclass.htm

I really do think knowing a little bit before "its time" will be helpful!

I really do think knowing a little bit before "its time" will be helpful!
Most definitely! You BOTH will be much more prepared. You're going to be stressin' enough as it is.

They not only teach you what to expect 'physically' with the medical procedures of giving birth and such, they tell you what you need to know about the hospital... As in: what entrance to use when you arrive, even if you arrive at 2am (like we did)... where to go to check in, and where your room, waiting room, and delivery room will all be... so you don't get lost when you're wiggin' out about becoming a parent.

The class(es) will help and are absolutely worth the time and effort. Even though I've been through it once, we'll take the class again when the time comes for TheNextOne.

Okay on Wednesday we went in for a normal check up the dr didnt find the heart beat so we went to the hospital and did a ultrasound and could not find the heart be she had preeclampsia and we lost the baby. We where 7 mouthes and a week. only 1 mouth to go and we lost her. To make it worse her boby was fighting to keep the baby there put sea Weed in her Cervix to open her to 1cm and there put in a baloon and blew it up to 5cm and in all this her blood plateletts where to low to give any drugs so it was all natral after being in lader for 30 hr we gave birth to a still born waing 1pd 15in long.

We are all saddened by your situation. Our thoughts are with your family.

Oh wow. So so sorry to hear... Peace to you and yours.

Very sorry to hear about this.

Thank you for everything. I very much appreciate all of your sympathies. Me and my wife hope to have a more successful outcome the next time.

So sorry to you and your wife.
Our first pregnancy did not "work out", it was a heart wrenching ordeal for everyone.
Stay strong, be by her side, take some time to re-set and try again if that's what you both want.
Keep your head up.
My wife and I will be having our first this Thursday!

I am currently reading a book entitled "An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination" by Elizabeth McCracken. This is a pretty amazing book by somebody that has been through this same experience. You might want to take a look.

J, sorry you had to go thru such a painful ordeal.

I don't know if you still check this forum, but incase you do: we lost our first one early on. We followed the doctor's directions and our 2nd pregnancy was the easiest one anybody has ever heard of. Even the birth; we got to the birthing center at 5:55pm, had Olivia Lara at 7:33pm, and were home by 11pm that night, only 6 hours after arriving. We then spent until 4am just staring at our new lovely little girl.

She is the most precious thing in the world to us. While our first pregnancy did not work out, we have been more than blessed with this incredible daughter that we would otherwise not have had.

Keep the faith, brother.

Thank you everyone for your support and sympathies. Sorry I haven't been on that much. Me and my wife ended up getting pregnant two months later after that tragic ordeal not giving us that much time to grieve but oh well. The drs have been monitoring my wife much more closely this time around and shes been on bed rest since she was 4 months along. She is currently 7 months along and starts her twice a week stress test next week. I'm worried and stressed of course because we are almost at the point that we were at when we lost our daughter. I also am trying to find info on what I can do to help my wife out during labor since this time around should be a happier occasion than last. If anyone could give me some pointers on like how to make her feel more comfortable for example it would be much appreciated. Also how to prepare myself for this occasion and also like what we should pack for our hospital bag. Even though I pretty much went through it before there's still a lot I don't know since last time came about so fast. I would love everyone's input since I feel it would help me out a lot. Thank you ~Jrabbit

Why don't you send your mailing address to info@dadlabs.com and we will send you some materials.

Congratulations on your new pregnancy.

Regarding the delivery room, I found some very helpful videos on here. They guys are simply great and down to the point while being funny as hell.

Hospital bag:
You do not need much in your bag. Most important is having some things with you, making you and your partner feeling comfortable. Some suggest to have baby's first outfit in there and things for after birth, but you can always bring that the day after. Water for yourself is important, maybe even something to read and a snack or two to get the time through until you can head for the next vending machine - you never know how long you will have to wait. Don't forget a photo cam to take a picture of your new baby after birth.

For labor
A picture ID (driver's license or other ID), your insurance card, and any hospital paperwork you need

Toiletries
Pack a few personal items, such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, deodorant, a brush and comb, maybe even makeup, and a hair band or barrettes. Hospitals usually provide soap, shampoo, and lotion, but you might prefer your own. - It is nice to be able to freshen up in between or after giving birth.

Slippers and robe may come in handy when you're walking around during the early stages of labor.

If you can go home right after birth:
Car seat
Baby clothes depending on the weather, but not too light (wash beforehand!)
Blanket for the baby
Hat

Mom needs also a going home outfit. Choose something that did fit her at the end of the 2nd trimester. It needs to be comfortable and weather appropriate. Heavy duty panty liners and some cheap, but comfy underpants are important, too. (they probably won't survive very long due to bleeding)

I like the idea of an after-birth present. Get her something special to reward her work and to celebrate this occasion.

Good luck!

yes i know what mom Need but i need way i can help out next to Massaging her.