Thanks to a new childbirth simulator shock pad, men can now step in their wives’ shoes and experience the agonizing pain of enduring labor.

The simulator was developed in China and made in response to mothers-to-be who complain that they get little to no empathy from their partners.

Key Takeaways on the Birth Simulator for Men

  • Empathy Through Experience: The childbirth simulator lets men experience labor pains, aiming to increase empathy towards their partners.
  • Availability: Hosted at Aima Maternity Hospital in China, sessions are free and mainly target expectant fathers.
  • How It Works: Shock pads mimic labor pains through adjustable intensity shocks, providing a realistic experience of childbirth pain.
  • Impact on Participants: Men report a newfound appreciation for the childbirth process, with some reaching high pain levels before stopping.
  • Cultural Significance: By simulating labor pain, the device challenges cultural norms in China, promoting greater empathy and support from fathers during childbirth.

Where Is The Childbirth Simulator Available?

The device is currently being used at Aima Maternity Hospital.

Sessions are held twice a week and are absolutely free for men who want to show their significant other that they are willing to experience what they go through when it comes time for the bun to come out of the oven.

While most participants are soon-to-be dads, the device has also attracted thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies.

How Does It Work?

The childbirth simulator shock pads include nodes that are placed above the abdomen, which delivers a mild shock for about five minutes. A nurse then gradually increases the intensity of the shock by using a knob that goes up on a scale of one to 10.

According to one participant, the experience was none too pleasant and felt as if his “heart and lungs were being ripped apart.” He made it to level seven before shouting for the nurse to shut off the system. Many others gave up far sooner.

According to nurse Lou Dezhu, the simulator still does not fully replicate the full pain of actual labor. Even so, she hopes that it will make men more caring and loving towards their wives.

Another participant, Wu Jianlong, who endured the pain all the way up to level 10, said that the experience completely altered his stance on childbirth and made him realize that it is not “something really natural and normal that they can get through.”

Unlike most other countries, China does not allow fathers to be in the room during child delivery, which may attribute to the lack of sympathy.

The childbirth simulator shock pads, though, will hopefully change all that.

[photo credit: Raphael Goetter]