Within the Labour Suite, up to two birth supporters are welcome to comfort you.

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Before Selecting a Supporter

• Choose someone who makes you feel relaxed and confident.
• Birth supporters can be your partner, family members, or friends.
• Talk to your birth supporters about your wishes so they can assist you appropriately.
• Offer this information to your intended birth supporter to help them understand their role.
• Complete your birth plan during pregnancy and discuss it with your midwife and birth supporters before labour begins.
• Ensure your birth supporters are named in your birth plan for safety and security.

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During Labour

The main role of any birth supporter is to provide support and encouragement. Labouring women may want supporters to:

• Massage shoulders and back
• Help change into comfortable positions
• Support and encourage slow, calm breathing through contractions
• Encourage eating small snacks and drinking water
• Assist with decisions such as pain relief

Every labour is different, and it is common for women to change their minds about their birth plan. Birth supporters should approach labour and birth with an open mind and provide support as requested.

Birth supporters may also:

• Liaise with other family members and friends, keeping them updated as directed
• Remain calm and give reassurance throughout labour

What is unhelpful:

• Watching television, using social media, or chatting with each other to the exclusion of the woman in labour

Birth supporters should look after themselves:

• The Labour Suite is warm; wear light-weight clothing
• Eat and drink regularly; bring snacks and drinks if desired
• Ask the midwife about available eating facilities

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At Birth

• Two birth supporters may be present during labour and most deliveries.
• In an emergency, one birth partner may be asked to leave to allow staff to provide care quickly.
• If theatre attendance is required, only one birth supporter can be present. Decide who this will be before labour and document it in your birth plan.
• Include all decisions in your birth plan so the midwife can focus on care, not mediating between supporters.
• Birth supporters should offer words of encouragement but allow the midwife to communicate directly with the woman in labour.
• Birth supporters may be given the opportunity to cut the baby’s cord (only one person can do this).

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After Delivery

• Everyone may be excited and emotional after the birth.
• If you are asked to inform family and friends, do so after the midwife has completed essential checks and after discussing with your partner what information to share.
• If all is well, mum and baby will usually be discharged within 6 to 24 hours after necessary checks.
• During this time, mum and baby remain in the labour ward.
• Sometimes, admission to the post-natal ward (ward 8) may be advised. The midwife will advise about visiting times.