HealthPartners - Preparing for childbirth

Your Labor Partner

When you’re in labor, it’s easy to forget some of the techniques you learned in childbirth class. That’s why it’s important to have your labor partner come to classes with you. Your labor partner can help you stay calm and remind you when and how to use some of the comfort measures you both learned in class.

The person you choose as your labor partner will play a vital role in helping you get through labor and birth more comfortably. For many people, this will be their partner or spouse. For others, it might be a family member or a close friend. Whoever you pick should understand that they will be with you

through all the different stages of labor, actively providing help and support.

1 EMOTIONAL SUPPORT Keep you informed about how you are progressing 2 REASSURANCE Tell you how well you’re doing and how much you mean to them 3 SKILLS LEARNED IN CLASS Breathe with you, remind you of focal points and visualization 4 TIME YOUR CONTRACTIONS Track how close together they are and how long they last

5 6 7 8

PRESSURE POINTS AND MASSAGE Use touch and massage techniques to help you relax COMFORT MEASURES Fluff pillows, help you change positions, remind you to use the bathroom KEEP YOU RELAXED Suggest changes in relaxation methods or breathing if you are in pain UPDATE FAMILY AND FRIENDS Manage who is in the room and offer updates during labor

ESSENTIAL DUTIES LABOR PARTNER of a

10 Your Guide to Labor and Birth