Sometimes, being a birth partner can be overwhelming and daunting. It is always hard to watch your loved one endure pain and go through the birthing experience. But, this can also be one of the greatest moments of your life.
The primary role of the birth partner is to help the mom-to-be feel supported throughout the birthing process. As a birth partner, you need to find out how you can help the expectant mother and make her birth experience quite positive.
One place to start is by talking to her in advance about their expectations of you and ask them how they would like you to support them. Read on for expert tips on how you can be a good birth partner.
Be Prepared
Birth partners should always be prepared and ready at the hour of need. However, preparation should start several weeks or even months before the due date. Arrange for a meeting with the expectant mother and talk to her about her expectations of you and the specific roles that she wants you to play on that day.
Talk through her birth plan and understand everything that she needs to happen the moment she goes into labor. If you are her spouse, consider attending the antenatal and natural birth classes together to help you learn what to expect in labor.
Classes will help you establish a strong bond between you and the expectant mother and come up with a precise plan of how things should be done on the big day.
Take Good Care of Yourself
It isn’t surprising for a birth partner to be overwhelmed or even fall sick during the birthing process. Often, it is because they have been tasked with so much and may not even find time to eat or drink water.
Therefore, as a good birth partner, you need to keep some snacks on hand and have a bottle of water or energy drink with you to ensure that you stay on toes all the time and help the mom-to-be anytime she needs your help.
If the expectant mother is giving birth in a hospital or birthing facility, make sure that you carry extra layers of clothes since birth rooms can sometimes be too cold.
Be Flexible
You need to keep in mind that labor strategies that work for some women may not work for your partner. A birth partner’s work is to figure out what works and be prepared to get rid of what doesn’t.
Therefore, it is critical to keep an open mind and make critical decisions as you go along. This emphasizes the point of attending the antenatal and natural birth classes with the expectant mother since you’ll be taught how to handle various situations that may arise.
You’ll learn how to take positive initiatives at the most critical moments while keeping the wishes of the expectant mother in mind.
Manage Your Own Fears
One of the most important things that you need to remember as a birth partner is that if you feel overwhelmed by the labor process, you won’t be in a good position to help the mom-to-be.
Prepare yourself mentally by watching educative YouTube videos beforehand so that you know what to expect. You should also take time to talk to some new parents and do some reading about labor and childbirth.
Provide Company
One of the greatest things that you can do for an expectant mother is to be there when she needs you. Be sure to provide the much-needed company and emotional support. You can even hold her hand and take her out for a slight walk during the early stages of labor.
You may also want to listen to some soothing music, watch television, or read an interesting story together. Always feel free to help with whatever that makes the expectant mother feel relaxed and comfortable.
