Birthing a child is an experience and a pain that is unmatched. When I had experienced Braxton Hicks contractions and other pre-labor pains during my first pregnancy, I thought that I would be able to handle delivery. I thought that my years of harsh and painful menstrual cramps had prepared me for the time that I would give birth. Yet, when my contractions actually began, I realized pre-labor pains and cramps were a cake walk.
The pain is excruciating, and as you fall back on the breathing techniques that you received in childbirth classes, you soon realize that the techniques are nothing without the right support around you. One of the key components of easing that pain is the person who will be in the delivery room with you.
A study by the World Health Organization states that birthing partners “provide practical support, including encouraging women to remain mobile during labour, providing emotional support and non-pharmacological pain relief such as massage and meditation. Companions act as advocates for the women, speaking up in support of her and her preferences.”
Choosing the right partner who will be in the delivery room with you is one of the most important decisions that you will make prior to giving birth.
Who is allowed in the delivery room according to hospital rules and specific COVID restrictions?
What is a doula, and should I have one with me as I give birth?
According to what you have expressed in your birth plan, you will want to consider whether or not you would like to have a doula. “Think of a doula as your personal advocate during labor,” Katherine Walsh expressed in her Mom.com article. “She’s a non-medical professional who can act as a go-between for you, your partner and the medical staff.”
Doulas can be essential as they will know how to navigate all of the trials of giving birth. In “What does a Doula do? Plus, Tips for Finding the Perfect Match,” Katie Kivlighan CMN PhD, stated how women who use doulas have a:
- 39% decrease in the need for C-section
- 10% decrease in the use of medications for pain relief
- shorter labor by an average of 41 minutes
Although doulas may not always be medically trained, their insight into labor and birthing methods and their emotional support for you and your partner can provide you with the much needed peace that you desire.
In the end, it all comes down to support. Focus on your needs, and then choose a birthing partner who will care for you in the way that you desire. Birthing a child is miraculous, but it can be unbearable so you will want someone next to you that you can count on.
