We've all seen the movie version of the nervous dad-to-be sweating bullets and passing out in the delivery room while his long-suffering wife stoically endures the pain of childbirth. The next scene usually involves poor mom left to fend for herself while all medical personnel attend to dad, who by the time is on the floor. It's pretty standard stuff in the movies and usually good for a laugh. But does this ever happen in real life? Yes, it does.

According to Cynthia Rodriguez, the birth of her first child could have been scripted in Hollywood. Her husband is New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez - better known as A-Rod - and for a big, tough ball player, he's pretty wimpy when it comes to hospitals.

For an episode of YES Network's YESterdays, Cynthia recounts the 2004 birth of daughter Natasha Alexander Rodriguez. She says she knew her husband had difficulty dealing with medical situations, but was hopeful that he could stay upright and conscious while she gave birth. No such luck.

"The one nurse had a cold cloth on his head. The other nurse had the blood pressure on his arm. And my mother was like rubbing his back. And he is passed out on a couch. And I am there, in the middle of labor," she says. "And really, I am not being paid much attention to besides the doctor and a couple of nurses," she said. "And he is there moaning. In between pushing, I am going, `Honey, are you OK?' and `Are you breathing? Are you OK?' "

Thing went much smoother the second time around. When Cynthia gave birth to Ella Alexander last month, A-Rod arrived about ten minutes after she delivered. I imagine him walking very slowly down the hall of the hospital, hoping and praying the messy stuff will be over by the time he reaches her room.

What about you? Was your labor and delivery a comedy show, too?