A new study has revealed that whilst it’s common for soon-to-be parents to want to have the mother of the expectant mother in the delivery suite, almost half of expectant dads would like to have their own mother in the room to share the experience with and receive support from.
Would you want the mother of the father to be in the delivery room?
However, almost all instances where the expectant dad’s mother was in attendance were due to the expectant mother’s own mum not being available or no longer alive.
More than three quarters of British women want their mums with them when they go into labour, compared to two thirds of men who want her to be present. What’s more, almost half would instead like their own mum to be present, yet they usually only are when the woman’s mother is not available.
The team at www.MoneySavingHeroes.co.uk conducted the survey as part of ongoing research into British parents attitudes and experiences.
It was initially found that 78% of expectant mothers choose to have their own mums with them in the delivery room, along with their partner, with the top reasons being ‘they’ve gone through it themselves and will know what to expect, ‘to support my partner as much as me’ and ‘so I’m never left alone’.
What’s more, whilst the majority wanted their own mum on hand during labour, just 13% wanted to have their partner’s mum around, with the majority stating they didn’t want her there as ‘I need my own mum, not someone else’s’.
Just 15% stated that their partner has had an issue with their request of their mother being there, with 82% of those wanting the experience to be between just the two of them. The remaining 18% admitted they don’t get on with their mother-in-law, hence not wanting them there. Asked if they’d regretted having their mother in the delivery room, just one in five expectant mothers did.
All male respondents were then quizzed about the experience. Initially asked if they’d wanted their mother-in-law to be present in the delivery suite, two thirds did and the remaining one third didn’t. What’s more, 49% admitted they’d have quite liked their own mother to be present. Of the 16% who had the man’s mother in the room, 90% of those were present because the expectant mum’s mother was unavailable or no longer here.
When asked to expand on why they wanted either mother to be present, the top reasons cited were found to be:
1. For support - 85%
2. They’ve been through labour and will know what to expect - 70%
3. They’ll be a more calming presence for the mother-to-be - 56%
4. It’ll be someone I know and trust among the madness of labour - 51%
5. It’s an experience I want to share with them - 42%
George Charles, spokesperson for www.MoneySavingHeroes.co.uk, commented:
“Bringing a child into the world is a magical moment and one that parents will remember for the rest of their lives. Deciding who to have in the delivery suite can be tricky and expectant parents may change their minds regularly, but all involved should respect the wishes of the parents. If they want a mother in the room with them or not, it’s their moment and their experience.”
Tagged in Parenting