Being a Birth Partner : Your Role in the Birth Process
It may sometimes be forgotten, but both partners have a key role to play in the birth process! Here are some tools to help both partners participate in the birth journey as much as both desire and at every stage.
Early Labour
During early labour, your role as a birth partner is important in creating a comfortable environment and providing emotional support.
Environment:
Help create an environment to encourage labour hormones. Make your partner as comfortable as possible, turn on the TV and put something on they'll love, or play some music they enjoy. Creating a dimly lit space and limiting bright lights will help labour progress. Sometimes a change in environment can assist, going for a stroll outside can help the time pass in a helpful way.
Distraction:
It’s important for both you and your partner to rest as much as possible in early labour. Encourage a partner to take naps, go to bed at a decent hour, and help them avoid “overdoing it” with walking, stairs and other commonly suggested “labour progress tips”.
Nutrition:
Help your partner stay hydrated and well fuelled for the labour process by encouraging them to drink plenty of water and eat good size meals during early labour (if they feel like eating).
Emotional Support:
As a birth partner, you have the power to provide emotional support and create a calming space.
Attention focusing:
This technique is often used to re-centre the Birther inwards either after moving into the hospital or from home, or after there has been multiple interruptions into a birth is rhythm and ritual. For example saying things like “okay, let’s take some nice, deep breath‘s, and count to 10”.
Music/White Noise. Creating a calm space:
The atmosphere of the best space is an important factor in helping labour progress smoothly and increasing the oxytocin hormone. Dim the lights, putting on soft music or a white noise machine, and doing your best to limit people coming in and out a good ways to keep the birth space calm and accommodating to the birth process.
Birth Partner’s Hospital Bag:
You’ll be caring for yourself and your partner during birth. In order to be present and able to best support your partner, don’t forget to pack your items for yourself in the hospital bag.
Camera
Comfy change of clothes
Snacks/Food
Drink bottle
Gum/breath mints
Lip balm
Toiletries (toothbrush, deodorant)
Glasses (contacts may become dry)
Phone charger
Active Labour Support Techniques:
Once you arrive at the hospital there are still plenty of ways you can support your partner.
Help make decisions
Words of encouragement and affirmation
Try not to use counter-productive language. Example “it can’t be that bad, you’re overreacting, calm down…”
Make them laugh. Laughing releases oxytocin the hormone responsible for labour progression. Be mindful that there will come a time where you’ll need to stop joking and focus on the process alongside your partner.
Ask your partner what physical support they would like. Sometimes counter pressure on lower back, hip squeezes and back rubs can be really nice - best to ask and listen to the birthers instructions. It is common for birthing women not to be touched during some parts of labour, but offer throughout as things change.
Help your partner change positions frequently. Even if they have an epidural, changing sides and using a pillow in between their legs can help things along.
Offering ice chips to suck on, cold washer on forehead or heat packs
Getting water/juice, hot or cold cloth‘s, ice chips etc.
The B.R.A.I.N.S Framework:
B - What are the benefits of having this intervention?
R - Are there any risks?
A - Are there any alternatives?
I - What does your intuition tell you?
N - What happens if we do nothing?
S - Ask for space to make the decision as a family.
Remember: birthing women and their partners have the right to informed consent.
Ask questions and use B.R.A.I.N.S to help make informed choices.
