What It Is Like To . . . Deliver A Baby

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday October 2, 2007

TAHNEE WATSON

SCOTT Jones admits his knowledge of childbirth was derived from his university medical textbooks until a prac in the obstetric and gynaecology department landed him in the delivery suite.

"It was a lot louder, more stressful and scarier than I had imagined," he said.

"Labour was also a lot messier than expected, which seems weird to say, but having no experience, I was not prepared for it to be as messy as it was."

Scott said the picture he had imagined of the mother giving birth in bed was also a lot different, particularly when he became involved in deliveries in the shower and on the birth stool.

But aside from the physical surprises, there were emotional ones as well.

"I was also not ready for the happiness I felt when I saw a healthy baby delivered and that happiness it brought to the face of every person in the room," Scott said.

"The worst part of labour for me was the helplessness I felt when mothers were contracting and pushing and there was nothing I could really do to help."

"I can say that I am glad I do not have to go through it," he said.

"I have a lot of respect for mothers who go through labour and birth and I think that it is one of the hardest but most rewarding things to do that I have ever seen."