It’s easy to get panicky and a bit lost about what to do in the delivery room. So if you’re a dad, you really shouldn’t be too hard on yourself if it’s your first time there—how can you know what’s expected of you? It’s best to ask the doctor or the nurse what you can do to help. And to be fair, we have to acknowledge the fact that there's a lot of pressure on dads to be in the delivery room in the first place.

But the most important thing is that you talk to your loved one and ask what she wants and needs. It might be something as simple as getting her a cup full of ice chips or singing her favorite childhood song to help her calm down and give her strength.

HealthDay writes that you can prepare for the day of your child’s birth beforehand by going to birthing classes beforehand. What’s more, you can talk to some other dads about the experiences that they had and they’re bound to give you some pointers. After all, live advice is the perfect complement to you having read tons and tons of books on the subject. (You’ve read them all, haven’t you?)

According to HealthDay, dads are usually a mix of unofficial nurses, coaches, and cheerleaders in the delivery room. So at the very start, in the early hours of labor, your task will be to distract your loved one from dreading the next contraction. Walking around the room with her, putting on some music, or giving her a back/foot rub are all things that you can do to make things easier on her.

However, as the contractions get stronger and more frequent, your main job becomes keeping your partner focused. Look into her eyes. Encourage her. Help her avoid panicking and getting anxious. Keep in mind that you _might_ get screamed at to be quiet by this point. Don’t take it personally because your wife’s bringing a human being into the world and it’s tough work!

At the actual moment of birth, you, the dad, should do your best to stay calm and continue supporting the love of your life. Save your tears for later. And if you’re feeling brave, you can watch a bit of the actual birth, too.

Dads tend to cry once their kid is born. Their next impulse tends to be grabbing the camera. After taking a few snaps for the ages, put the camera down and go take your baby in your arms. Check in on your partner when your baby’s taken to the nursery and keep both company as much as you can. Then, it’s time for a round of calls to your family and friends. Just remember that if you do faint or do something unintentionally comic, it’ll still be a great memory for later.