Choosing who is going to be with you when you give birth to your baby is a very personal decision to make. For many women, it will be the baby’s father, but some moms they might decide their own mom, sister or a close friend.
Having a baby is one of the most special moments in your life. It can also be one of the most exhausting experiences, both physically and emotionally. Whoever you choose to be your birthing partner should be considered carefully. You want someone who is supportive and someone that can remain calm at all times.
Below is 10 tips when choosing a birthing partner.
Pick the right person: The person you choose to be your birth partner needs to be someone you have the most confidence in. They need to keep calm and respect your wishes and know what you want from your labour.
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Experienced: Picking some who is experienced in labour and have gone through it themselves .This can you grandma, mom and even your sister. Your labour will run more smoothly if you with someone experienced.
Caring person: Ensure the person you pick to be your birthing partner is helpful. They should be good enough to massage your back and shoulders, and help you move about or change position and comfort you as your labour progresses and your contractions get stronger.
Emotional support: Whoever you pick should be able to praise, reassure or encourage you. Just holding you and keeping eye contact with you can be hugely comforting. This may reduce your anxiety levels and lessen your pain.
Advocacy: Your birthing partner should be comfortable to be able to ask for help when you need it, or speak up for you. This will be helpful during strong labour, when the power of the contractions may make it hard for you to talk.
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Information: Your partner should be able to suggest something you learnt. Your birthing partner can remind you to keep moving around, or that you’re nearly there.
Physical support: Your birthing should be able to give you physical support. Whatever you need. If you feel hot and like to have a cool flannel on your forehead. They should also make sure that you have enough to drink.
Encouraging words: The person you choose should be good with words. Having them say encouraging words so you can kick start labour smoothly. Have them say inspirational quotes.
Stay calm and positive under pressure: They need to be able to stay calm under pressure. You need to turn every bad thing about your labour into a positive. They will need to be able to tell jokes about every bad situation.
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