Male Actions Signaled by Labor and Delivery Nurses as Potential Indicators of Upcoming Divorce
In the critical moments of childbirth, the presence and support of a birth partner can make all the difference. However, unsupportive behavior from birth partners can have a profound negative impact on the labor experience and the mother's postpartum emotional health.
Jen Hamilton, a nurse based in North Carolina, highlights the importance of birth partners during labor. She notes that labor is a time when partners rise to the occasion or fail miserably. Unfortunately, some partners fail to provide the necessary support, leading to a more challenging labor and a worse postpartum emotional state for the mother.
According to Hamilton, one instance she encountered involved a man who purchased a 55-inch screen monitor for the hospital while his partner was in labor, because his gaming system wouldn't hook up to their TVs. This kind of disregard for the mother's needs during labor is not uncommon, as nurses have reported dealing with bored, judgmental partners.
Yancy Guzmán, another nurse in North Carolina, has stated that unsupportive behavior during labor is exclusive to heterosexual men. This unsupportive behavior can take many forms, including a lack of emotional support or presence, poor communication or interference, disconnection or withdrawal, behaviors that undermine confidentiality or privacy, and failure to advocate appropriately for the mother’s wishes or needs.
These unhelpful or offensive behaviors can increase women’s experiences of mistreatment, ineffective communication, lack of supportive care, and feelings of non-confidential and non-inclusive care during childbirth. Women receiving low or moderate support from companions have higher rates of these negative experiences compared to those with high support, which may also affect their postpartum mental health, such as anxiety and depression.
To avoid these negative outcomes, nurses encourage birth partners to ask their pregnant partner what they would find helpful during labor for pain management before the birth day. They advise against behaviors that prioritize screens over being present, sleeping through active labor, making judgemental comments about the mother's decisions during childbirth, and bringing people into the labor room against the mother's wishes.
Supportive partner involvement, on the other hand, can improve outcomes and the birth experience. By providing emotional support, effective communication, and advocating for the mother’s needs, birth partners can help create a more positive and less stressful labor environment.
References:
[1] Childbirth Connection. (2011). Transforming Maternity Care: A Guide to Accelerating Change. Washington, DC: National Partnership for Women & Families.
[5] Kozhimannil, K. B., & Korn, E. A. (2015). The association between labor and delivery nurse continuity and patient-reported outcomes. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 44(4), 406-413.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness and women's health, the role of birth partners during labor cannot be overstated, as their presence and support can significantly impact the mother's postpartum mental health.
- Jen Hamilton, a nurse, underlines that labor is a critical period when a birth partner's behavior, whether supportive or unsupportive, can have a profound effect on the mother's emotional state.
- Fashion-and-beauty considerations should be secondary during labor, as illustrated by an anecdote from Hamilton about a man who prioritized his gaming equipment over his partner's needs during labor.
- Relationships between partners can also be tested during childbirth, with unsupportive behavior exhibited by some birth partners leading to increased instances of mistreatment, inefficient communication, and negative postpartum mental health outcomes like anxiety and depression.
