Member-only story
The Birthing Partner in the Labour Room
Guidance for birth partners, what they should do during labour
Labour can be a daunting part of any woman’s journey to motherhood. The role of the woman in the labour room is well understood. The role of her birthing partner, whoever that may be, is much less clear. A birthing partner can be the father, the woman’s mother or whoever she may choose! Although little is known about the role, is an important one. They play a key part in supporting the woman through her journey and can be instrumental in creating a calming environment. Having a calming environment can be the difference between a birthing experience the woman is thankful for, and an experience that will traumatise her for potentially years. This highlights how significant the role a birthing partner can be.
When you think of a labour room, you most likely imagine a scene from a Hollywood movie, showing midwives dashing around collecting towels. The father or birthing partner sitting in the corner, wide-eyed and unsure of what they should be doing. They might be concerned, they might be worried, they might want to do something to help. There is not much guidance out there, so I have used my time working on a maternity ward as a student midwife in order to compile the following guidance.
