Hi moms (a low murmer rumbles through the room...what's he doing in here?)

Well it's a quiet night, I'm on evening shift so up late and was taking the time to explore the site and ended up reading brae's post. And she inspired me.

We have some wonderful fathers on this site. Dedicated men of all ages and backgrounds but with a common bond. That being a profound sense of responsibility to our children. And we have birth stories too. Maybe some from the other side of the fence would be interesting.

So, with the ladies permission, I invite the fathers to share their stories. Where were you? What emotions were running through your mind? Did you participate? What kind of silly mistakes and assumptions did you make?

Interested ladies may have to do some coaxing here. The dads don't venture in here to often.

Sounds like a good idea to me. I would love to hear it from a man's side of things. Do share, do share......(waiting patiently for the first story) :baby:

This should be interesting come on you fathers out there let us know what you thought of it all my ex thought the birth was excellent and said he wanted to do it all over again personally I felt like punching him only I was too wiped out on pain relief I couldn't do much ( I still feel like punching him only its for different reasons now )

.... also waiting patiently for the first story

Wow thats a really nice story to begin with, I can't believe you drove off and left your wife thats so funny.

DD - Thats a great story. I cann't beleive you left your wife in the drive way too funny.

Hey I can give the birth story from Coles dad's view.
"She called me to tell me she was in labor, I told her she had the wrong number (I was at the bar and didn't want to leave). So after the bar closed at 2am. I went up to the hospital, but the baby had already been born."

DD, what a great story. That was funny, though. I couldn't imagine being left in the driveway. I would have been laughing, too.

OK! Where are the rest of the dads? I know you're out there. JD, why didn't you share your story? Come on. We're waiting! (Some of us not so patiently!)

Aww DD that is a great story. I am eager to hear some more stories from the point of veiw of the dad!

Okay but briefly. I got stuff to do.

Jayd's mom was the cranky type. Can't really blame her. Carrying that belly around and all the hormonal and emtional baggage must be tough for you ladies. I was anxious. I had been through this before but each child is a new experience.

For about two weeks prior, the mom was giving me false alarm after false alarm. So it was a Friday night/Saturday morning when she woke me up and said "it's time". I growled something like "not again" and rolled over. She called her mom and off they went. After being pounded with guilt for about ten minutes, up I get and I follow in my car. Into the labor room I go all red eyed and growly until I see the monitor beeping and her all doped up and talking wierd. And it sinks in. "This is not a drill!"

After a few hours of watching her on Demorol she is finally wheeled into the delivery room and I'm outfitted like Dustin Hoffman in "Outbreak". Little boots, gown, mask...you know the routine. And then things start happening. The nurse says the right things and the doctor comesin for his cameo appearance and soon there she is. Jayd is in the building. So here's where my flub comes in. I'm so proud and excited that I insist that I carry her to her new crib. I had been at this hospital before but was unaware that times have changed. They no longer use the nurseries and the mom and baby are kept together in the same room. Nobody told me though. Off I go down the hall. turn right through the swinging and doors into the nursery and voila! Paint cans, step ladders, drop clothes, plaster all over the floor and in my arms a little baby who is only minutes old. What? Where is everybody? Where's the nurses station? Where's the nurses?

Behind me I feel a tap on my shoulder. It's a nurse and smiling she leads me to mom and baby's room where I sat there for hours holding my baby girl and smiling. That smile is still there eleven years later.

Great story, JD! She's beautiful, so I can see why that smile is still there! Thanks! More dads? Come on guys!

Aww those were both great. Too funny DD that you left her in the drive way, lol. Alright, bring the stories on guys.

Great Story JD..I am eager to hear more. Just wondering if labor is as long for the men as it is for women.

Well from our point of view...all I can ask is have any of you ever tried to comfort a person who is emotional and in pain and whacked out on some really strong stuff. Talk about walking on eggshells. Whew!

JD - Thats cute. No I have never had to comfort a person in labor. But JD I still think going through labor is worse.

I'm just after noticing that DD mentioned that it was "our pregnancy" now thats sweet even if he did leave his wife in the driveway.

I'm thinking labour would be worse too JD although you have a point men do need to tip toe around us especially if the labour goes on forever!!!!

Oh please don't misunderstand me ladies. No argument there. I have great respect for you girls. I have said before, us big babies have a hard time getting past the flu. The dads would give up intimacy if we had to go through that. I'm sure of it. But someone asked what the labor part was like for us.

Well it's hard to watch and even harder to be helpless about it but no...you are all correct...you moms do the real work. Respect for you all.