The BEST acronym for birth partners to live by in labour

I really feel for birth partners. When labour is in full flow, all the focus will (of course!) be on mum &  baby, but often what birth partners experience & witness can be so overwhelming & at times, worrying, especially if they haven’t been massively involved during the pregnancy or done any antenatal prep. I hate to stereotype but men (usually) are ‘fixers’ and like to fix things if their partners are emotional, stressed or in pain. But labour can’t be fixed. Labour is a feeling & a very physical powerful process which the woman needs to work through, with the help & support of her partner (&doula).

What I like to do when I work with my clients is to not only ensure that mum is fully informed & confident about her birth choices, but that I’ve also empowered her partner to be the BEST he/she can be for her when labour starts. Afterall, the birth partner will be there from the beginning until the baby is born & thereafter. Often, they are the constant! The doula tends to arrive when mum is in established or active labour, and the midwives check in intermittently (depending on circumstances but let’s for now assume there are less complications)

When I work with mums & birth partners, I will usually provide them with handy one-pager resources to remind them about different aspects of labour, what to expect, and little hints & tips to keep mum relaxed & feel safe. One of the resources I hand out is this acronym for birth partners: SUPPORT.

Supportive environment. Keep the room calm, clean & free from interruptions. Try to match mums’ energy levels & let mum set the tone.

Urinate. It sounds so simple, yet so many people don’t know to do this! Make sure mums’ bladder is empty. This will help to create room for baby to descend, allowing labour to progress. Just sitting on the toilet backwards can also be a really good (comfy!) position for labour & help mum to relax her pelvic floor.

Position changes. Changing positions can help the pelvis to open and helps baby turn and shift to find the way out. You could suggest that mum finds a new position every 30-45 minutes and help them get comfy in a new one (or ask your midwife/doula for tips!). Sometimes, you may not even need to do this, as mums can be so instinctive in what position is needed/most comfy.

Praise. Provide loads of verbal support and encouragement- more than you think is necessary. This can go so much further than you think! Studies have shown that verbal support alone can shorten labours!

Oxygen. It sounds simple, but a solid breathing technique can make all the difference. Help mum remember to breathe (not hold her breath) with long, slow inhales and exhales. You may have to remind her with each contraction.

Rest & relaxation. Both of these are key labour progressors. Help mum to find comfy positions to relax in & remind them to keep their body loose & relive the tension in between contractions (hint – check the jaws, face & shoulders for tension)

Touch & massage. This doesn’t always come naturally to every birth partner, and for some mums it might be the last thing they want! BUT, if it is – USE IT! Physical touch (especially from a partner) releases oxytocin and endorphins, which help labour progress and reduce pain. Offer a shoulder rub, back massage, or just a hand to hold for reassurance.

I hope this is helpful.

Grace x