Story: Pregnancy, birth and baby care

Father at the birth of his child, 2007

Father at the birth of his child, 2007

John Roberts supports his wife Kate during contractions, while family friend Rachel Dickinson (left) applies acupressure for pain relief. Fathers were excluded from the birth of their children until the second half of the 20th century. Some maternity hospitals allowed fathers to be present in the 1950s, but it was not until the early 1970s that this became standard practice.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Pregnancy, birth and baby care - Childbirth, 1950s to 1980s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/26170/father-at-the-birth-of-his-child-2007 (accessed 16 April 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 24 Oct 2018