First time dads in the United Kingdom are getting a crash-course from midwives to help and be hands-on during the birth of the firstborns in the fascinating new series, Don't Just Stand There, I'm Having Your Baby, starting on BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174), this Sunday, 12 January at 19:00.
The arresting new British series tracks hapless young dads, looking out of their depth and out-of-place, getting help in getting more integrated in the birthing process of their first child.
The men get closer to the baby delivery action that what they could ever have imagined in Don't Just Stand There, I'm Having Your Baby, and its accompanied by major emotions, moments and tears.
BBC Worldwide made a screener of the first episode of Don't Just Stand There, I'm Having Your Baby available to South African TV critics, showing how British midwives assist, train and support uncertain dads to prepare for the arrival of a baby and to be able to support the mothers giving birth by being better birthing partners.
The first episode of Don't Just Stand There, I'm Having Your Baby follows Adam (26) who gets stressed out easily and is clueless about birth, and Callum (19) who didn't plan on becoming a dad and who can't stand the sight of blood and who is squeamish.
While the majority of each hour long episode deals with and chronicles the preparations and education, filled with tips and training for dads, it's the tail end of each episode of Don't Just Stand There which makes for harrowing emotional, yet satisfying, viewing.
That's when cameras are in the delivery room and show emotional dads helping their partners to bring new life into the world - even cutting the umbilical cord.
Dads have an important and growing role in the delivery process of their babies and in supporting their partners, and in Don't Just Stand There cameras get a close-up view, without being intrusive, of not what they're doing at the bedside in the delivery room - but how they can help do it better.
