Wondering how to support your partner during labor and delivery? Folow this post please !
Prepare for Labor and Delivery
Childbirth education classes can be extremely helpful to help you prepare for what’s to come. Learn about the phases of labor, what’s happening to your partner’s body, and the reasons for a C-section. Knowing what to expect can help make the experience more comfortable for both of you.
Show Your Support
As the contractions grow more intense, reassure your partner that they’re doing a great job and that you love them. You can also help by feeding them ice chips or wiping the sweat off their brow. And though some people don’t like to be touched during labor, others appreciate a neck or back rub. If you don’t know how to best support them, don’t be afraid to ask your partner or the delivery nurse for suggestions.
Ask Questions
There’s a lot of action in the delivery room! If something is happening that you don’t understand, again, don’t be afraid to ask the nurse questions. The answer could put your mind—and your partner’s mind—at ease.
Monitor Contractions
Your partner can’t see the contraction monitor, but you can. This means you can talk them through the contractions, describing when they’re about to peak and start subsiding. Narrating what’s going on—when one’s starting, when it’s ending—may give them a sense of control.
Advocate for Your Partner
Don’t wait until your partner is in the throes of gut-wrenching contractions to find out what kind of assistance they’d like. Discuss their birth plan in advance—find out how they feel about episiotomies and their expectations of the doctor. The realities of labor may cause your partner to change their mind.
Don’t Complain
“Do not complain or act bored (no yawning),” says Carole Arsenault, RN, IBCLC, and author of The Baby Nurse Bible. “I’ve heard many dads complain about a sore back because they’ve been standing next to their wives for so long.” She adds that the labor experience is completely focused around the one giving birth. “A laboring person may want to squeeze their partner’s hand during a contraction,” says Arsenault. She encourages you to tough it out: a contraction typically lasts about 60 seconds.
Make the Occasion Special
Your partner’s resting, the baby’s sleeping peacefully in the hospital bassinet, and you’ve contacted the relatives. Think it’s time for a nap? Not yet. “Your partner has been through a lot both physically and emotionally,” says Claire Lerner, L.C.S.W., a child-development specialist with the nonprofit group Zero To Three, in Washington, D.C. “It’s a good time to show them how much you love them.” Bring flowers, splurge on chocolates, or write them a love note.
