The pending arrival of a baby is a wonderful time! It doesn’t matter what the circumstances, when a new baby comes into the world, it is a true miracle. As is expected, much of the focus in the delivery room is on the woman. After all, she is the one who is enduring the pain of childbirth. What many people don’t consider is that the men in the delivery room have their own issues as well.Years ago, men weren’t allowed in the delivery room. Guys were relegated to the waiting room, left to pace a hole in the floor as they waited for their offspring to be born. Today, however, there has been an enormous shift in tradition, with 90 per cent of dads now taking a hands-on approach in the birthing process. The journey begins not only with conception but with choosing the nursery furniture, picking out names, and taking Lamaze classes. Even with the best of training, guys may still feel out of place when attending the birth of a child. With the advent of birthing rooms taking the place of the sterile operating room, grandparents, uncles, friends, and even siblings are invited into the birth experience.Obviously you cannot know exactly what it feels like to carry and birth a newborn; however, you can learn as much as possible about all the stages of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and newborn bonding. Perhaps once you understand the prenatal class basics you might start having doubts about how you will be able to handle it all. Try to set those uncomfortable thoughts aside. Studies show that men are more likely to get and stay involved in the care and nurturing of their children if they are present at the births.Contents Introduction 3 Changing Roles 5 Stages of Labor 8 Once At the Hospital 13 Your Role in the Delivery Room 15 Comfort Measures for Her 19 Labor Tool Kit 24 Pain Medications 26 Pain Relievers 27 Epidural 28 Delivering the Baby 30 Episiotomies 32 The Baby Arrives 34 Procedures for the Baby 37 Reasons for a Cesarean Section 38 Guy’s Guide to a C-Section 42 Deciding to Be There or Not 45 Conclusion 48