Study: Dads should not always attend their children's birth

A new study suggests it is not always beneficial for the mothers for fathers to attend the birth of their child.

Researchers at University College London gave 39 women moderately painful “pinprick” laser pulses on their fingers both with and without their partners present.

Katerina Fotopoulou, who led the study, said that the pain was not always alleviated by the presence of the men, especially among women who said they avoid emotional intimacy in their relationships.

“Overall, this study suggests that partner support during pain may need to be tailored to individual personality traits and coping preferences,” Dr Fotopoulou said.