The Important Role Fathers Play In The Delivery Room

The Important Role Fathers Play In The Delivery Room

Pop culture is notorious for mocking the stereotypical ways men react to seeing women give birth, but in everyday life, those moments are often far more serious and supportive. George Estrada, a father himself and the CIO of the Center for American Progress joined HuffPost Live host Nancy Redd to discuss his experiences with his wife's deliveries of their children and why movies, albeit funny, don't paint the most accurate picture for future dads.

"There was a complication with our son," said Estrada. "It ended up being nothing, the kid was just big ... But it happened so fast. I wasn't expecting that -- there was no book that I could have read that would have told me this is a possibility based on your kid. These are the things that happen."

Estrada believes women have an easier time than men responding appropriately to such situations, because they are more in tune with what has been physically happening to their bodies as they carry their children to term.

"There is a level of maturity that you have to go in there with -- I think that with men in particular," he said. "When I talk to young men, that's one of the things I do tell them. There's a time to joke ... but you do need to walk in there and accept that you are her partner, you're there for her. If something goes wrong, you have to be ready to step up to the plate and not get freaked out over every little thing."

To hear more about Estrada's experience with the births of his children, watch the full HuffPost Live clip in the video above.

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1
Jennifer DeTolla
"This is football Sunday!"
2
Heather Kalenak
"One of my favorite pics of my husband and daughter. She wasn't even a month old in this picture. When he is home, she is with him. No matter what he's doing! Still like this 2 years later."
3
Angela Mangrello Miller
"Dad fixing the rainbow loom while watching the game cast on the iPad."
4
Jennifer Elaine
"Daddy lets them give him a spa makeover at their slumber party."
5
KayCee Hall
"Daddy mastered the double hold so he could eat dinner. #twins"
6
Summer Horton Pradera
"One of the many, many reasons why I love him."
7
Rebecca Walsh Hevel
"Daddy will sing karaoke at Legoland all by himself!"
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Rebecca Brower
"After dinner, pre-clean up, kitchen-yoga. Aka: stalling"
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Ilse Fuentes
"Daddy naps at aquarium while son proceeds check up"
10
Sarah Murphy Mannheimer
"Bring your daughter to work everyday. #thisisparenting"
11
Dulce De Abreu
"If your child can't sit still at a restaurant, join her, why not?"
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Adriana Dolden
"Sometimes, u gotta do stuff just to make your kids happy"
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Kaylyn Skellington Hansen
"Parenting is a workout!"
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Jamie Schmidt
"My daughter and her step dad on her first day of school"
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Karen Than Myaing
"#parenting is bringing your infant to an adult party!"
16
Erica Gilchrist
"Pile on!!!"
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Tracey Queenb Collins
"New daddy mastering selfies with his son!"
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Mindy Kern
"Tea party with Daddy!"
19
Mary Lee Stagner
"'Giddy up! Giddy up!' #bestdaddyever"
20
Amber Bahr
"Guitar with Daddy"
21
Shijo George
"Sleeping like a baby! Literally :))"
22
Cathy Crooks
"3 year old thoughtfully gave Dad an armrest so he could catch up on some reading for work"
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Jillian Buck
"'Watching the toddler'"
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Karin Tyson
"My daughter was up all night from a cold, so naturally, we were too. Both were exhausted by the time we got to the doctor's office. Hahaha."
25
Sarah Wall
"Life as a hard working Daddy to twin toddlers!"
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Justin N Natalie Bradley
"This sums up our nights on the weekends."
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Alix Simonette
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Sam Sonali Sonali
"Granpa Babysitting...lol"
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Whitney Howarth
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Susy Rebolledo
"When your birthday becomes 'their' birthday"
31
Aparna Gupta
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