Your Partner and Coach The birthing woman’s partner is usually at the top of the labor support list and often acts as a “coach”, to encourage the mother to try different comfort measures helping and guide the mother through different relaxation and coping techniques. The presence of the father, or partner, during labor and delivery is a fairly new concept in the US, becoming more prevalent within the last twenty-five years. Now, the participation of a woman’s mate in the birthing process is the norm. Often times, the father is the one that cuts the umbilical chord and, more recently, the one who “catches” the baby upon delivery. Having the partner present during labor and delivery also tends to create a more intimate family-centered atmosphere, making the experience more rewarding for both parents. A woman can also draw from their partner’s love and strength, thus making the emotional and physical process of childbirth and the transition to motherhood much easier and more fulfilling. For More Information on How to Enhance your PARTNER's Role in Childbirth: The Bradley Method: Husband-Coached Childbirth Your Childbirth Educator Childbirth education became prevalent in the US in the forties, introduced by Dr. Grantly Dick-Reed’s, Childbirth Without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth, soon followed by Robert Bradley’s philosophy of husband-coached birthing. Lamaze and other organizations focused on childbirth education. Childbirth educators serve to inform expecting parents about the biology of childbirth, coping and comfort techniques, common interventions and routine procedures to expect 9and avoid) in a hospital birthing situation. Often times, an independent CBE gives you more direct information about the dangers of routine procedures (such as IVs and continuous fetal monitoring that confine a woman to be, thus slowing labor) and common interventions, whereas a hospital-associated CBE probably won’t be as forth-coming with this information. There are different types of childbirth educators that teach different principals of childbirth. Some promote more natural and holistic approaches to pain relief while others advocate analgesics and other pharmacological pain relief. Regardless of the differences in beliefs and styles of teaching, however, most childbirth educators focus on making expectant parents more aware of their options, providing much-needed support and reassurance. For More Information on CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS: (types of prepared childbirth courses available, the training an certification process of a CBE, ot how to find an eduator near you) Lamaze The Bradley Method Birth Works Birthing From Within Doulas A doula is a non-medical birth assistant who is professionally trained to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth, help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, massage and positioning. They also provide assistance to families in gathering information about the course of their labor and their options; continuous emotional reassurance and comfort; massage and other non-pharmacological pain relief measures and assistance to partners who want to play an active support role help so the woman has a safe and fulfilling birth experience. A doula can not only provide support and compassion to a birthing woman and her partner, but she can also act as a “buffer” of sorts between her clients and the hospital staff. Having another person present during labor, in addition to the father, tends to reduce the chance of negative comments from the staff…after all, it IS human nature to be on your best behavior when there is an audience! The doula does her best to ensure that the hospital’s routine does not interfere with the quality of the birth experience and over shadow the parents needs. It is not at all her intent to tell the staff how to perform they jobs, but to remind everyone what the mother wants and that her needs are met. Doulas also provide postpartum care as well, but usually the services of a “postpartum doula” are separate from those of a “birth doula”. She can provide mother and newborn care, breastfeeding support and advice, cooking, childcare, errands, and light housekeeping. A doula helps to foster confidence in the new mother and provided much needed support and encouragement. The role of a postpartum doula is to ease the transition into motherhood and allow the mother to fully enjoy her newborn. For More Information on DOULAS: (the training an certification process of a doula and how to find one near you) DONA (Doulas of North America) Birthing From Within A Better Birth.Com Locating a Doula or CBE From Childbirth.Org Looking for a birth doula in West Pasco & North Pinellas Counties, Florida? | Choosing a Care Provider | Choosing a Birth Environment | Building a Birth Plan | | Your Labor Support System | Pain Management | VBAC | Common Interventions & Procedures | | Breastfeeding | Birth Stories | Recommended Reading | Doula Services (Denver) Hosting by WebRing. Navigation by WebRing.