What is the role of a labor coach or support person during delivery?
What is the role of a labor coach or support person during delivery?
During labour and delivery, it is important to have a supportive person present to ensure that the mother and baby are both safe and healthy. This person can be a family member, friend or a professional labor coach. The role of the labor coach or support person is to provide both physical and emotional support.
Physical Support
A labor coach or support person can provide the mother with physical support during labour, such as:
- Massaging: Massaging the lower back and neck during contractions can help reduce pain and improve the mother’s breathing.
- Hydration: Ensuring the mother is well hydrated with fluids, such as ginger ale, sports drinks or ice chips, is important for her comfort during labour.
- Position Changes: Changing the mother’s position during labour can help to relieve discomfort, reduce pain, and encourage the baby to move down the birth canal.
Emotional Support
Labor can be a very stressful experience, and having a supportive coach or support person present is essential for the mother’s emotional wellbeing. The labor coach or support person can provide encouragement and positive reinforcement to the mother through verbal affirmations and words of comfort. This can help the mother to remain calm and focused during labour.
In addition, the labor coach or support person can also help to ease the mother’s fears and provide reassurance when needed. It is important for the labor coach or support person to practice active listening and validate the mother’s feelings.
Conclusion
A labor coach or support person is an essential part of the labour and delivery experience. They provide physical and emotional support to the expecting mother and can help create a more positive experience.
