Everything You Need To Know About Being A Birth Support Partner
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Being the person a woman selects to have beside her as she gives birth is an honor and a huge responsibility. You need to be able to support her and keep your cool even if things go haywire. The experience of being in the delivery room with someone as they welcome new life can be extremely rewarding and overwhelming, but it can also be exhausting. Especially because everyone is going to be thinking about the wellbeing of the mother in labor, as they should. But this means that you need to be able to take care of yourself while staying out of everyone’s way and supporting your partner at the same time. And this isn’t as easy as everyone makes it out to be. So, if you’d like to know what to expect while you’re a birth support partner and how to be great at it, then this is the article for you. Read on to know more!
What Is A Birth Support Partner?
A birth support partner is someone who has been invited by the mother in labor to encourage and support them as they give birth. Now this doesn’t necessarily have to be a father. It could be a same sex partner or a co-parent, the woman’s parents, a close friend or family member or even a paid professional like a doula. This person is around to provide intense metal and physical support to the expectant mother. And if you’re that person, you need to do everything you can to prepare for the role. You may also be her advocate if she is no longer able to communicate with the medical team clearly. So you will be entrusted to take charge and convey her wishes to the maternity team. If she wants more than one birth support partner, discuss what part of the labor you are to be present for or if she wants both partners to be there until the end.
What Can I Expect As A Birth Support Partner?
There are a few things that you will need to do in order to prepare for the birth, usually alongside the expecting mother. One of those things is attending antenatal classes and discussing the mother’s birth plan in depth. It’s important to keep in mind that several factors contribute towards how a birth can go and that every single one is different. So, things may not always go according to plan. Make a list of what plan B and C look like. Take down what she is absolutely not okay with unless it is an absolute must, like a C-section or epidural. Be prepared to be flexible but don’t be afraid to speak up for your partner when they are in distress. You will have your own responsibilities and rights while in the delivery room so make sure to discuss these beforehand with a doctor or a midwife.
How Can I Support My Partner?
You can support your pregnant partner well before the birth by helping her out around the house when she is tired or unwell. Make sure to go to all of her doctor’s appointments with her and take antenatal classes with her. Once you reach the hospital, communicate with the doctors and midwives so that they know the current status of your partner. Once in the delivery room, focus on your partner alone and stay calm even if they are losing their mind. They will depend on you to be encouraging and positive in every scenario. Bring her water, snacks and a cold towel if she wants them. Help her move into the birth positions she chooses and support her weight. Help her breathe deeply and make sure she has a couple of coping methods to deal with the pain. This could be distracting her or giving her a squishy stress ball. Massage her if she needs relief and wipe her face if she wants you to. Make sure both your phones are with you so that you can keep the family updated.
What To Expect In The Birthing Suit?
Your partner will have a maternity team with her throughout the birthing process. She will go through stages of labor as her cervix expands in order to allow the baby to pass through this cavity. She will start to feel the urge to push as her contractions get intense and closer together. There may also be a bed, chair, ball, cushion or mat to help your partner get into the birth position they prefer. In case of a cesarean, you will go to the operation theater with her.
The birth process can be long and exhausting so make sure to take a tiny break. Get yourself some water and a few snacks to keep yourself going. Make sure that you are in comfortable shoes and clothes as you may be in them for a long while. And as always, stay patient, positive and ready to support!
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