When mom is rushing to the delivery room to give birth, the last thing they're thinking about is the baby's dad. He's there to help and offer encouragement, but for the most part, he just fades into the background as they focus on more pressing matters... Like delivering a baby.

But even though he might not be at the forefront of your thoughts, the dad is an important presence in the delivery room. What he does in that room has the power to influence your overall childbirth experience. He has the power to make it a really special and memorable moment... And he also has the power to completely ruin the entire experience.

How well he handles childbirth is completely dependent on his personality. Some guys just aren't going to do well, plain and simple. But there are plenty of signs that a man will actually be a great person to have by your side when you give birth. These signs have to do with many different factors, and it's easy to spot them in every day life. This article will at least prepare you for some of the things guys can do wrong in the delivery room. And it'll also remind you that guys can actually be very helpful while you're going through childbirth.

20 He Already Helps Around The House

When you make it into the delivery room, you're going to need a lot of help. While nurses and healthcare professionals will be there to assist you, sometimes your loved ones are the most reliable. At least, you hope they're reliable. A guy who doesn't lift a finger to help you while you're going through childbirth is the worst, and many moms have gone through that, sadly.

But if a guy is already helping around the house, then he might just be able to handle childbirth like a boss. The key thing here is that he does things around the house without being asked. If this is true, he's likely to make sure that you have everything you need while you're delivering your child.

19 He Doesn't Crumble Under Pressure

We all know that the mother deals with the most pressure and stress during childbirth, but it's kind of daunting for guys too. They worry, they freak out, and they're probably a little scared. The thing about fear is that it's contagious. Even though you might be determined to keep calm, your man might be a total mess.

That's why a man who doesn't crumble under pressure is always good in the delivery room. Even though he might be scared on the inside, he takes a deep breath and gets on with it. If the dad is a man of action, then he'll probably be a great person to have around while you're going through childbirth.

18 He Has A Good Sense Of Humor

Even though childbirth is a very serious thing, it never helps to have a sense of humor. It's when we're feeling desperate that we need cheering up the most. And we all know that a guy with a great sense of humor can make light of even the darkest situations. Sometimes, all we need is a good laugh. This can give us the strength to keep going, even when we're on the verge of giving up.

The dad will never be able to feel what you're going through, or help you physically deliver the baby. But he will be able to provide you with moral support, and cracking a joke or two can really help you out. Having a sense of humor means that he's optimistic, and positive vibes are very important in the delivery room.

17 He's Not Uptight

The last thing you need when you're delivering your baby is someone who feels repulsed by the whole ordeal. Yes, it childbirth can be a little weird at times, but hey, it's a normal part of life. If a guy can't get over the icky little details of giving birth, then he's not going to be able to handle being in the delivery room. If he's too uptight, then he has no place being there in the first place.

You can spot signs of this a mile away. Maybe he gets a little grossed out by perfectly normal details about being a woman. Maybe he can't stand the sight of vomit. Either way, if he gets grossed out about those little things, he is not going to be able to handle childbirth... at all.

16 He Takes Care Of You When You're Sick

If you're looking for a guy who will be a total rock star in the delivery room, get yourself a man who takes care of you when you're sick. We're not just talking about a guy who holds your hands and says he feels bad for you. We're talking chicken noodle soup, hot water bottles, extra blankets... the whole nine yards. A guy who goes that extra mile to make sure you're healthy will absolutely breeze through the delivery room.

Because if you think about it, being pregnant is a little bit like being sick. And if being pregnant is like being sick, then actually giving birth is like having a serious fever. Your man needs to be there to make sure that you're okay, even if there are trained professionals around you. The moral support will be worth a lot.

15 He Cares About Animals

You can tell a lot about someone by the way they treat animals. Animals can't communicate, and for the most part, they can't really defend themselves either. People who treat animals well are almost always good people deep down inside, and they're also willing to put other beings above themselves. Even though a guy might be nice to other people, he might just be doing that to get something in return. Animals offer nothing but love in return, so treating one nicely one of the ultimate acts of kindness.

So what does this have to do with being pregnant? Well, in a weird way, you're kind of like a helpless animal when you're pregnant. You're sort of at the mercy of other people, and that's why you need to have ultimate trust in the people around you. If your man takes care of his dog well, he'll probably take good care of you as well.

14 He Can Stay Awake For Long Periods Of Time

Pregnancies don't always go as planned. While some are super quick and easy, other moms might have to wait hours and hours for their baby to finally come. It can be a tiresome thing for everyone, and sometimes it's hard to even stay awake. Dads really show their true colors in these situations. Either they fall asleep on some chair somewhere and miss the whole pregnancy, or they load themselves up with caffeine and stay awake by all means necessary.

Sometimes, you can tell if your man is going to be a trooper way before he ever sets foot in the delivery room. Most women know if their man is the type to fall asleep easily, or stay up for long hours. If your man can stay awake for long periods of time, it means he has the strength and endurance to deal with long, drawn out pregnancies.

13 He Knows When To Put His Phone Away

Of course there's something that's arguably worse than falling asleep. And that's being way too distracted. Guys who are more interested in their phones than you are never going to be good in the delivery room. These guys might end up missing the childbirth, just because they're too interested in a new app or game. And even if they're messing around on their phone before the actual childbirth begins, that's still kind of an insult.

If guys have trouble getting off their phones during everyday life, they might also have that problem in the delivery room. When you're about to give birth, all attention should be on you. It doesn't matter if nothing has happened for the last two hours. His phone can wait.

12 He Trusts Doctors And Mainstream Medicine

The last thing you need while giving birth is a guy who thinks he knows it all. For the most part, doctors are well-trained, professional individuals that know what they're doing. If your man ends up getting into an argument with a doctor, it'll make you even more stressed out. Doctors need to be given trust, and they need to be given space. Your man should know when to get out of the way and let the professionals do their job.

If you're having arguments about medical procedures before the pregnancy, it could be a bad sign. An even worse sign is a guy who thinks that he knows all about the best way to give birth - based on a few YouTube videos he's watched on his free time. Your man needs to trust the doctors to do their thing.

11 He Knows When To Give You Space

Some mothers like to be pampered during pregnancies, while others like to be given space to breathe. No matter what your personality is, you might find that your outlook changes once childbirth begins. It's up to your man to "sense" whether or not you need space. Of course, he should get the picture when you scream at him to get out. If not, well... You've got a problem on your hands.

You might also find that your desires change right after you give birth. A lot of women like to have some alone time with the baby right after they deliver. They just want to be alone with their new little one in the room, where they can finally get some peace and quiet. If you ask for this, then your man better be willing to step out for five minutes.

10 He Doesn't Take Pictures At Less Than Ideal Times

You know what else can disturb peace and quiet? A really badly timed photo. We all know that one person that snaps photos at the worst possible times. Is your man one of them? If so, you might think twice about letting him bring a camera into the delivery room. He might just ruin the entire experience when he asks you to "say cheese" while you're pushing.

Of course, some women want the dad to snap a picture when the baby is delivered. For some families, this is one of their most cherished memories, and the photo goes right into the scrapbook. But knowing when to take that picture is very important. If your man doesn't have that skill, then he won't be a great presence in the delivery room.

9 He Knows How To Distract You

Sometimes, giving birth is all about "mind over matter." You go to your happy place, meditate, and try to block out all of the craziness which is happening. And sometimes, the dad can really help distract you from the stress and anxiety of giving birth. If he has that ability to completely take your mind off all your worries, then he'll be one of the most valuable people in that delivery room.

If your man is already skilled at distracting you and making you feel better, then that's a big sign that he'll handle childbirth like a boss. He knows that he can't change what you're going through, but he can help you by helping you shift your focus to other things.

8 He Pushes You To Achieve Greater Things

Let's face it, the dad is pretty much relegated to a cheer leading position in the delivery room. All he can really do is offer encouragement and try to keep morale up. But even though this might seem like a trivial thing, it's more important than you might think. Sometimes we really need someone to push us forward when we're ready to call it quits, whether we're at the gym or in the delivery room.

If the dad is already a very encouraging person, then that's a great sign he'll totally own that delivery room. Maybe he's pushing you to achieve new heights in your career, or make one of your lifelong dreams come true. If he shows that kind of belief in you, he'll be amazing during childbirth.

7 He Is Calmness Personified

Even though a man of action can be a great asset in the delivery room, there is also something to be said for a calm sensibility. The last thing we need is someone who makes us even more stressed out than we already are. Maybe you need someone who yells encouragement and screams out instructions. But a lot of women would probably benefit from a more relaxed approach.

A man who is calmness personified is always a reassuring presence. Calmness and tranquility is contagious, and a man with a strong sense of calmness can spread that vibe across the entire room. You'd be amazed what a steady, confident voice can do for your nerves.

6 He Can Adapt

All veteran moms know that pregnancies almost never go to plan. You can dream all you like about how childbirth is going to pan out, but life has a way of throwing curve balls at you. You could go into labor earlier or later than you expected. All kinds of thing can happen. But most moms agree that when it comes to pregnancies, you'd better be ready to adapt.

The same goes for the dad. He also has to be able to adapt and shift with the changing circumstances, and that's not always easy. But if he has shown a tendency to be very fluid and adaptable in everyday life, then that's a great sign. If he can quickly adapt to a changing environment, then he's going to do just fine when it comes to childbirth.

5 He Knows When To Shut Up

For many moms, there comes a time where they just want everyone to shut up. There's nothing wrong with that, and she has every right to demand quiet. Sometimes, it's all just too much for you to handle during childbirth. The doctor is yelling instructions in one ear, and your man is in your other ear, telling you to keep pushing. But when it comes right down to it, most women know what they have to do during childbirth. They don't need other people telling them what to do.

So when you tell your man to shut up, he better be willing to pipe down, fast. Because if he's the type to ignore your demands for silence, then the delivery room is going to get a lot more stressful. If your boyfriend knows when to close his mouth in everyday life, it's a great sign that he'll be a respectful partner in the delivery room.

4 He Stands Up For You

There's no getting around it - mothers are in pretty vulnerable positions when they're going through childbirth. Sometimes, doctors have a way of taking control and making decisions on behalf of the mother, while ignoring her concerns and protests. Some women might even be put on certain medication that prevents them from being able to communicate their wishes to healthcare professionals.

The bottom line is that you need someone who can stand up for you. If you're screaming and no one is listening, then sometimes it helps if the dad steps in and backs you up. He might be the only one who knows what your wishes are in terms of medical treatments and procedures. If your man has a history of standing up for you and supporting you, then he'll be a great ally in the delivery room.

3 He's Not Afraid To Cry

We all know that emotions can run high during childbirth. There's no denying it. You'll probably feel a ton of different feelings over the course of giving birth. Anger, fear, joy, excitement, relief... The list goes on. But you won't be the only one feeling strong emotions in that delivery room. The dad will be on an emotional roller coaster of his own... If he allows himself to truly feel, that is.

We'd like to hope that he allows himself to truly give in to his feelings during this time. Because if there's ever an acceptable time for a man to cry, it's when he welcomes his child into the world. If he's stifling his emotions and keeping it all bottled up inside, that kind of ruins it for everyone... So if he's the type that allows himself to cry on occasion, he'll totally add to that special moment during childbirth.

2 He'll Call You Out On When You Deserve It

Despite what moms might think, they're not right 100% of the time. And sometimes, moms aren't making the right decisions. In the context of childbirth, you might find yourself in a position where you're just not trying hard enough - and you know it. If this is the case, then you need someone who can call you out on your BS. You need that one person who's not afraid to give you a rude awakening.

The dad might end up being the person to tell you that you're not giving it your all, and you need to really summon up that extra bit of strength. Sometimes we need that person that says, "Hey! That's not good enough!" The last thing you want is someone who's too afraid to actually call you out...

1 He's A Good Driver

Last but not least, the dad needs to be great behind the wheel. This skill is important long before you even get to the delivery room, but it's very important. Most of the time, it's the dad who ends up driving the mom to the hospital, and that's the first time in the childbirth process that you'll be truly relying on him.

Being a good driver doesn't mean driving fast. Taking risks on the way to the hospital is probably the worst decision ever. The dad needs to drive at a good speed, but a safe one. He needs to be calm behind the wheel, and very observant. If you don't trust your man behind the wheel on a normal day, then you're going to be feeling ten times as anxious when you're on your way to give birth.

References: cosmopolitan.com, elitedaily.com, thebump.com, thebump.com, consumer.healthday.com