How To: Stay calm when your wife is in labor

You'd like to be strong and supportive for your wife in the delivery room… if only your knees would stop knocking. Keep both of you from freaking out with these tricks. Watch this video to learn how to stay calm when your wife is in labor.

Step 1. Fake it

On the big day, force yourself to pretend that you're relaxed and confident. Simply acting like you're cool, calm, and collected doesn't just fool others—it actually tricks your own brain into believing that you feel that way.

Step 2. Breathe

Take another tip from Lamaze—breathe! Inhale deeply, count to ten, and exhale. Deep breathing physically relaxes you by slowing your heart rate.

Step 3. Talk

Talk to your wife—about anything other than what's happening. It will divert her from the pain and you from panic.

Step 4. Reassure her

Make reassuring gestures—hold her hand, stroke her hair, give her a back or foot massage. Doing something nice for someone else triggers the release of endorphins, which will boost your spirits.

Step 5. Listen to music

Play some relaxing, quiet music—nothing with a strong beat—and when you start to feel overwhelmed, sit, close your eyes, and focus on the soothing tune.

Step 6. Drink up!

Have a drink—of orange juice, that is. Vitamin C lowers stress hormones in the bloodstream—and the effect is almost immediate.

Step 7. Chew some gum

Chew some gum. A Columbia University study found that chewing relaxes people by reducing muscular tension.

Step 8. Go to your happy place

Visualize something soothing. Brain scans show that if you close your eyes and picture a peaceful scene, you'll start producing relaxing alpha waves in less than 30 seconds.

Step 9. Take a break

If things become too intense and you're worried you're going to faint, have a seat and tuck your head between your knees—or step out of the room completely for a breath of fresh air.

FACT: The first hospital in Iran to allow fathers in the delivery room did so in 2