Planning your baby's birth

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Do I really need a birth partner?

Rachel Ambler

Consultant midwife.

It'll be much better for you if you have a birth partner to support you throughout giving birth.

You may not have a midwife with you all the time in the early stages of labour. Having the right support can help you to have a positive birth experience.

A birth partner is there to encourage you and make sure you are comfortable. Your birth partner can help you to concentrate on your breathing and give you a hand changing positions.

During labour, there'll be times when you need to concentrate all your energies on yourself and your baby. Your birth partner will be there to give you sips of drinks and snacks to help keep you going, and massage you during intense contractions.

Sometimes labour doesn't go according to plan. It can be difficult to make decisions when you are anxious or in pain. A birth partner is an extra pair of ears and eyes and can act as a sounding board for any swift decisions you may need to make.

Your birth partner should also know of your hopes and plans for labour in advance. Your midwife or obstetrician may turn to them for guidance about your wishes when you are in labour.

Your birth partner should be someone you can trust and rely on. You need to be confident that they will drop everything to be by your side at a moment's notice. You should feel physically and emotionally comfortable with them. You need to be comfortable with them seeing you naked or very emotional.

An ideal birth partner is a person who can stay calm under pressure and isn't squeamish. It's also good to have someone there who knows how to distract you, or even make you laugh, so you can relax between contractions.

Choose someone who knows you really well. There will be times during your labour when you will need your birth partner's support and may be other times when you would prefer they take a back seat.

Your birth partner should be a person who is able to be sensitive to your needs at all times.

The person that fits the bill could be a friend or a family member. Don't worry about offending friends and relatives you don't choose. Just try to focus on finding the right person to give you the support you need.

If you don't have anyone who you can rely on to support you, it's worth considering hiring a birth partner if you can afford it. This could be a professional birth companion, a doula or an independent midwife. These are trained professionals who are experienced in supporting women through labour.

For help finding an independent midwife, or doula, see:

Last reviewed: July 2011


This article was written using the following source:

Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, et al. 2007. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003766 [Accessed July 2011]

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