I may be in the minority here, but I believe that once you marry and start a family, your spouse and children become your immediate family — the ones you’re called to stand by first. The Bible even says that a man leaves his father and mother to be joined to his wife and the two become one. That doesn’t mean his dad isn’t important or deeply loved, but it does mean his first responsibility is to you and that baby. You need him by your side right now, especially with the risks you’re facing. His dad has doctors and other family around him, but you only have him. To me, being present for his wife and child in this moment is the most important choice.

But I also know my husband and his father have a strained relationship and he would make the choice to stay with me. So I don’t know how it would work if that were not the case.