Together you are a team

Partners often feel useless during childbirth. But this is definitely not the case! A survey of women giving birth found that the following points were perceived as very important and nice:

• Presence during parturition
• Standing up for your wife’s interests at a time when she is unable to do so
• Encourage and empower
• Feeling that you are a team together, experiencing the transition to being ‘parents’ together

So actually, as a father/partner, you have many different roles, namely:

Coach | Advocate | Cheerleader | Team member | Fellow parent

You often hear that it only becomes interesting for partners when your child can talk back more. But the first 3 years of life are very important for child development! What can you do as a partner to connect with your baby:

• Physical contact, skin-to-skin, frolicking, cuddling
• Talk to and with them, explain what you are doing
• Make eye contact
• Actively take on care (diapers, feeding)
• Bed Ritual
• Games (peekaboo, baby swimming, board games)

Continue to communicate well

Having a baby is incredibly beautiful, but it can also be very hard and exciting. Staying in good communication with your partner is then very important:

• 30% of all divorces in NL among parents with children under 4yrs old
• First period with child is tough
• Don’t make assumptions or unrealistic expectations of your partner
• Keep communicating! What do you need, what can I do
• Invest in quality time (incl me time)
• Take each other seriously