Mummy and Me Magazine August 2014 October-November 2014 | Page 36

Daddy & Me

Commando
Dad

Brief: Labour is an intense emotional and physical
experience for the mother of your BT.
Your job is essential back up support.
Objective

COMMANDO DAD - LABOUR DAY

What she needs from you in terms of comfort
and support may change from minute
- Required preparation for your
to minute.
CO’s labour
TOP TIP
- Essential kit for the hospital
Nothing can prepare you
Preparation and Planning
for the emotions you will
Prevents Poor Parental
On July 25 1970, Peter
experience when your BT
Performance. You need to know:
Sinclair drove a labouring
deploys. I felt love, fear,
Your route to hospital, and
Ann Sinclair to the hospital.
frustration, confusion and
alternatives
They agreed she’d call
awe – and that was within
How to accurately time
him when she could face
the first hour.
contractions
visitors and he went to sell
Important contact numbers
The War Cry. There didn’t
You need to take:
(put them in your phone)
seem anything unusual in that
Change for hospital parking and
arrangement to either my mum or
vending machines
dad. That’s how things were.
Phone and charger
Your CO’s hospital bag.
Times have changed as dads
Water and high energy snacks. I
increasingly want to be there
once left for food and returned just
TOP TIP
to support their COs through
in time for the big push. Not a
Don’t take insults
childbirth. But not everyone
smart Commando Dad move.
personally. As a serving
has
received
the
Commando I was never
change in battle
Commando Dad
exposed to half of the words
orders.
One
my CO threw at me during
Glossary:
dad on the
labour. But what happens in
BT: Baby Trooper
Commando
the delivery room stays
CO: Commanding Officer, i.e.
Dad forums
in the delivery
the boss – the mother of your BT.
asked how he
room.
could help during
If you want to discuss any of the
labour, only to be told: “The
information here with me and other dads,
best thing you can do is stand in
or for advice and support, please go to the
the corner and pretend to
Commando Dad forums:
be invisible.” This is not
acceptable.
Gentlemen, don’t let
anyone tell yo H