How
doulas can support partners
 Our
birthing doulas will help a father/partner to
support the labouring woman in the best way they
can. Giving reasurrance and guidance, the father/partner
will be given the opportunity to feel empowered
by the experience of birth and to be able to relax
into the situation without having to be responsible
for everything by him/herself. A father/partner
can have a sleep, go and get food or some fresh
air and know that their labouring woman is being
supported by a knowledgable doula.
 Cathy and I had decided to invite our friend Sam to our homebirth, and I believe that this was a pivotal decision to our birth experience. Sam is a Doula and masseuse, and we’d invited her to our birth in a non-work role to observe our birth. Having such a calm and positive soul in the room reminded Cathy and I that every contraction, every pain, is a step towards a wonderful natural birth . As a first time birth partner I had a lot to sort out, to keep track of how much water Cathy had drunk, how much she’d eaten, to be present at every contraction, to time the contractions, to fill the birth pool… the list goes on. It was a job for more than one person, and I didn’t realize this until I was in the thick of it. I’m eternally grateful Sam was there to be the beacon of calm both Cathy and I needed!" Brent, Father of Finlay Read more testimonials
The general male way is to fix
problems and make things better by offering solutions.
The general female way is to give time to express
yourself, allowing emotions to surface and sympathise/empathise
with the situation or just to be there for a hug.
The male need to fix the situation can lead a
father to become distressed at a birthing because
they are not always able to make the labouring
woman feel better. He may then become dispondant
because he has no role to play and feels like
a spare part. The general hustle and bustle of
hospitals can sometimes forget that the father/partner
also have their own emotions and needs during
a birth.
Our birth doulas will help fathers/partners
by doing all the mundane little things like getting
a glass of water for the birthing woman, go out
to the kitchen to heat up a wheatbag or hotwater
bottle for comfort, or pour water down her back
while in the pool as you hold and support her.
Our doulas will also encourage and guide the fathers/partners
to do the best they can, giving them confidence
and support to know all is going well. All of
these things done by a doula will allow the father/partner
to relax and be there for the birthing woman without
feeling like they're rushing around doing everything
or wondering if this is all normal or not. Or
maybe if the father/partner is unable to give
that emotional support at a particular time, or
if the birthing woman would like another woman
to give her that sort of care, our doulas will
be there to help and reassure.
FAQ's
about our birth doulas
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