Yes, we don't know the circumstances... and, yes, I'm sure I'd want my best friend there if my significant other couldn't be, but they're saying that if she can't handle having the kid without the friend there, they probably shouldn't be having a kid... which is true. You don't always have people supporting you and cheering you on and holding your hand- its all you sometimes.

Yea sometimes it's all you...but in cases like giving birth it simply shouldn't be. One of my friends had her baby while her husband was deployed, they were stationed in Germany and her Mom flew all the way out here from Michigan for a whole month to make sure she wouldn't be alone when the baby came! So I think saying "If you can't have a baby by yourself you shouldn't be having kids at all" is plain simply stupid in my opinion. A birth is not an easy thing to go through...worst case scenario: something happens to the baby! Maybe it dies, maybe it'll be in a very critical condition (*knockonwood*)...I think everyone would prefer having family or friends around them while giving birth instead of just doctors and nurses...

WIN!

Not true at all. Some jobs, and not just the military can keep you. I can think of more than a few jobs where it would actually be *illegal* to leave the job without permission.

What a sexist thing to say. There are logical women, too. Men don't have a lock on common sense.

#46 - I totally agree. Men should be the ones having babies! Wouldn't that be fun? And to everyone saying women should be able to have babies on their own - yes, it's definately possible for us to do that, but it's a scary thing when a miniature human is forcing its way out of your genitals. I know all those "manly men" would be fine and just squeeze the baby out on their way to work, but for us women, we prefer having someone there. OP - I'm sorry that you couldn't be there with your friend. I hope the birth went well!

"This is why men should be the ones having kids, not females." Cyclone Psycho approves of this plan. *thumbs up*

only thing is, men seem to think they're definition of "common sense" is the only one.

no, men should NOT be having children. they would be whinier than girls about it. and they also have no maternal instinct. and guys, seriously, quit being such assholes about it. you don't know the circumstances and you can't assume she's whiney and weak just cause she's a woman. that's called, uh, sexism? and childbirth is just the kind of thing that you want people to be there with you during?

I'm just going to assume that all these men who think women are so terrible are literally homosexual.

they could never handle it. they'd die. it's proven in evolution...women can deal with pain better. the ones who couldn't died out.

Men don't have maternal instincts? I'm sure the protectiveness inherent in many men stem from somewhere. Men couldn't handle birth, having a mere ninth of the pain treshhold a woman has, but well, if they were built to be able to give birth, they probably would have more pain resistance, so that point is moot.

Actually, I'm bisexual

Wow, holy shit you guys are ignorant. 1) Men have a higher pain tolerance than women. It's proven. 2) Women's bodies release endorphins at the time of birth to better handle the pain. If men gave birth, you'd have to assume endorphins would be released, and they'd take it better than women.

@46 squeeze it out on the way to work? please.. we all know any guy that gave birth would be on the found screaming like they were being slaughtered and exorcised