Basic Trope: A man helping a woman give birth, usually in an emergency situation.
- Straight: Bob helps Alice deliver her baby.
- Exaggerated: Bob is Squicked by the childbirth, and some complication arises that makes this birth more drawn out than he'd like it to be.
- Downplayed: Alice is calm and collected and is perfectly capable of delivering without assistance. Bob is panicked and tries to help as much as he can but all Alice needs is just some privacy and hot water. She still thanks him for being a Nice Guy.
- Justified:
- Bob is a doctor, nurse, EMT, etc.
- Alice goes into labor, but Bob is the only one around besides her, and there's no way of getting medical help for whatever reason(s).
- Inverted:
- Alice is assisted by another woman (with or without medical training.)
- Gender-Inverted: Alice helps Bob give birth.
- Subverted: Alice is holding Bob's hand and is being assisted by another woman...
- Double Subverted: Who faints at the sight of the blood, and Bob must replace her.
- Parodied: When Alice's midwife faints, Bob tries to take her place and faints too.
- Zig Zagged: Bob attempts to help Alice give birth, but passes out. Alice is assisted by another woman, but she is scared of blood and can't do it. At that point, Bob wakes up and rushes to help, but the woman decides to face her fear. She ultimately can't and Bob ends up delivering anyway.
- Averted:
- There are no men to help Alice give birth.
- Alice is one of those few women who is able to give birth without any assistance so it doesn't matter if there is anyone who can help her.
- Alice does not give birth.
- Enforced: Rule of Funny or Rule of Drama, depending on what the writer(s) are going for.
- Lampshaded: Alice jokingly remarks, "Who would have thought I'd be relying on you to deliver our baby, Bob?"
- Invoked: Alice goes into labor After the End, and Bob is the only other survivor she's encountered thus far.
- Exploited: Bob realizes that Alice's labor pains can be used as a distraction or diversion in a heist or escape plan. He strategically times their movements based on the contractions.
- Defied:
- Bob doesn't want to (either because of Squick or because he's afraid he'll screw it up or both) and instead goes to find a doctor or midwife.
- If anyone, especially a man, tries to help Alice give birth she tells them to go away because she knows that she is Made of Iron.
- Discussed:Bob: "Well, Alice, looks like we're about to embark on our very own childbirth adventure. I've heard all kinds of horror stories. Buckle up!"
- Conversed:Alice: "We've been binge-watching that medical drama. The birth scenes always seem so dramatic."Bob: "Tell me about it! They really amp up the tension for the viewers. I hope our own birth experience doesn't play out like that."
- Deconstructed: Bob is Squicked, and if this is his wife or girlfriend, that could be the trauma that may cause him think their relationship's turned dull. And Alice is screwed if complications arise and Bob has no medical training.
- Reconstructed: Bob gets over the Squick and does what needs to be done. And even without formal medical training, Bob manages to help the birth go smoothly. If complications arise, his quick thinking helps to avert problems.
- Played For Laughs: Bob is making "EWWWW!!!!" faces while he helps Alice.
- Played For Drama: The birth is very difficult, and Bob has no medical training.
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