"I'm so excited!" Liu Guoyong, aged 33, recently witnessed the birth of his daughter Xiaomeng alongside his wife in the delivery room of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. "Holding her hand can ease her tension," he said, "and I can also wipe her sweat and feed her some brown sugar water."
This year, there has been a noticeable increase in deliveries at major hospitals in Beijing, with many obstetrics departments struggling to meet demand due to a shortage of beds. As the main demographic giving birth now—the post-80s generation—new fathers increasingly hope to be present during childbirth. However, few large public hospitals allow husbands or other relatives into the delivery room. Therefore, hospitals like Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital that offer partner support during labor are particularly popular among new parents. Song Zheng, a midwife in the delivery room of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, said that currently the hospital has five private delivery rooms where family members can accompany the mother. The accompanying area is mainly designated around the mother's head. "On one hand, it minimizes the chance for the family member to witness bloody scenes; on the other hand, it facilitates the family member helping with feeding water and wiping sweat," she explained.
Most new fathers accompanying their wives during childbirth are extremely excited. Some fathers faint as soon as the baby is born. Song mentioned that this kind of fainting is temporary and quickly recovers. There are also nervous first-time fathers who bring religious texts like the Buddhist scriptures, *Tao Te Ching*, and Bible into the delivery room, hoping all deities will bless the safe delivery of the mother and child. Some new fathers are deeply moved by their wives' labor pains, sometimes crying even before the mother does. Occasionally, more 'tough' mothers end up comforting their overwhelmed husbands. More often than not, however, the atmosphere is filled with love and warmth. Song noted that after delivery, the newborn is placed next to the mother for skin-to-skin contact, creating a touching moment for the entire family. Sometimes, the new father will even represent the family to embrace the midwife.
An unnamed head nurse from the obstetrics department of a tertiary hospital said that many hospitals would like to offer partner support services, but current conditions do not permit it, primarily due to insufficient hardware facilities. For example, single delivery rooms are required for partner support, and the layout of the delivery room must be relatively reasonable. Compared to public hospitals, private hospitals provide more humanized services, with most offering partner support during childbirth. Dr. Li Jianjun, an obstetrician at a private hospital, told reporters that the hospital welcomes about 70 to 80 newborns each month, allowing partners to be present whether it’s a natural birth or a cesarean section. Fathers can even cut the umbilical cord themselves. "However, the proportion of fathers cutting the umbilical cord is not high, about 10%," he noted. Some are too scared to cut, while others have already experienced being a father and lost the novelty. Having worked in the U.S. for six to seven years, Dr. Li said, "There, every mother has family members accompanying them." He emphasized that childbirth is a physiological process, and having family support can provide spiritual encouragement through simple acts like handing water or wiping sweat.
By Jia Xiaohong