Research and support
Caregivers as support people
Things to consider
As part of planning for your birth, you may wish to consider who will be with you during the labour. Perhaps you intend to just have your partner, or perhaps a close friend or relative (or all of the above). If you want your child(ren) to be present at the birth, then having someone to support them is also important. Your choice of birthplace, and who your caregiver is, may also influence your decision.
Professional support people are known as 'doulas'. (Doula is a Greek word meaning 'women who serve'.) Other terms sometimes used to describe a support person are 'birth partner' or 'birth companion'. Doulas are usually trained to offer guidance, encouragement, advice (and at times explanations about procedures), however, they do not perform any clinical tasks. However, your chosen support people do not necessarily need to be specially trained. They can be a friend, or a relative, but ideally the sort of person who can be unconditionally supportive on both emotional and physical levels.
Some birthplaces place restrictions on how many people are 'allowed' to be with you in labour. You should probably make enquiries regarding their policies and perhaps seek permission from the hospital staff, if you wish to bring more people than is generally allowed. Permission is also often needed if you wish to have any of your children present at your birth. They will also need a support person to attend to their needs. You may wish to read more in siblings at births.
Research and support
Many research studies have shown that if a woman has continuous, hands-on, nurturing and encouragement, from a sympathetic caregiver, or childbirth companion throughout her labour, she is
LESS likely to:
Need pain relief.
Have a prolonged 1st stage of labour.
Need an oxytocin drip to stimulate her labour.
Need an episiotomy.
Need an operative delivery (i.e. forceps, ventouse or Caesarean).
Have a baby that becomes distressed during labour, or for her baby to need assistance at birth.
Be postnatally depressed.
and MORE likely to:
Be more satisfied with her birth experience. Especially in the areas of dealing with her labour and feeling more in control of the experience.
Find her mothering easier after the birth.
Breastfeed for longer (if this is her choice).
Caregivers as support people