Did your SO have activities to do while you labored?

Question

So needing some advice as I’m a FTM. I’ve been thinking a lot about labor and obviously don’t know what to expect (in more ways than one.) but what’s on my mind today is my husband being bored. He and I have talked about if he should have is laptop during labor or not. (Graphic arts is his hobby. Does it a lot in his free time) I guess what I’m asking is, is early labor pretty uneventful? Should he have something to do, or do should he have all his attention on the labor? Did your SO get bored? I feel so weird “planning” activities for him while I’m in labor! Lol.

Answer

I’m not sure how it is if you go naturally, but I’ve been induced twice and we both needed things to occupy our time. I had some dvds and my husband had his iPad and some books. Once you’re in serious pain, and the contractions are close together he’ll probably want to be with you and won’t be able to focus on anything else. Good luck!!

Answer

I had a bit of morphine in early labour with my first and I slept for a bit at that point so it was good for him to have his phone or book during that. However I did the rest all naturally and had all back labour. He was put to work providing counter pressure on my low back every contraction. 
With my second we watched Netflix and went for walks and then, again, I had bad back labour and he was busy pretty providing counter pressure again.
He laughs when I tell him this but I seriously could not get through labour without him.

Answer

my hubby was there holding my hand talking to me instead of doing something else

Answer

Early labor can last for hours (mine did for about 24 hours), but you should still be at home at that point (unless you get induced) and mobile. I went for long walks with my hubby and we watched TV together.

Answer

Shouldn’t his activity be helping you, coaching , acting as your advocate, getting stuff you need?  I think having planned activities is a little weird.  I’d be put off if my husband suggested this. It’s the birth of our child, not summer camp (is what I’d be thinking).

Answer

my friend's husband brought his Xbox and while she was in labor he had it hooked up to the TV in their room and he was playing

Answer

my labor lasted about 4 hours while at the hospital. my husband was right at my side and holding my hand nearly the whole time. we didn't have time for activities but if you were being induced I could understand the need to fill down time. he always has his phone and can spend hours on that so I'm sure he would have done that 🤷

Answer

If tell him to bring it, personally. As long as it’s quiet. But I also was induced and was in the hospital a few days so that colors my experience. 
I found during early labor when i needed to breathe through contractions that I couldn’t talk to pay attention to him. He and my mom needed to talk quietly. Once I was in full labor I really only needed him twice. Once to hose me down in the shower during intense contractions and once for me to squeeze his hand while I was using the gas. Otherwise he really didn’t exist to me. I know that’s bad to say but he had my mom and she really encouraged him to watch when he wanted to and to cut the cord when it was time. 
 
So I guess it depends on how much of that quiet stuff happens at home for you versus how much is at the hospital. And also how much you end up relying on him during the intense part of labor. I can’t imagine him being able to focus on the computer during that time, tbh. But the early stuff probly.

Answer

It definitely wouldn't hurt for him to have something to do at the hospital to kill time. Once I got my epidural I was able to doze on and off and my husband just watched movies and played on his phone. Our labor was 26hrs so there was a ton of down time. Make sure he brings himself a pillow and drinks/snacks too.

Answer

My labor lasted an entire day, my mil was the one there, she spent that time calling around people with updates and retrieving my laptop and whatnot since I was induced randomly. It was so uneventful, I was able to do photo editing for a few weeks worth of pictures.

Did your SO have activities to do while you labored?

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