June 15, 2003

Appropriate support for birth

The important role of fathers during pregnancy, labour and birth was a topic we discussed yesterday. Twenty years ago, when we first started promoting the “active birth” concept, we realised that fathers needed support during labour, almost as much at the mothers at times.

As Michel Odent has pointed out, if anyone is anxious during the birth process, this contagious emotion will be picked up by the labouring woman and this can have an adverse effect on her ability to labour well. Fathers could easily be frightened by the events of labour and their needs must be recognised and appropriately supported.

In Australia, hospitals responded to these needs by opening their labour wards to all comers (sometimes they regretted this, as large families and multiple friends arrived!) and the prenatal classes were rescheduled to nights so that fathers could attend and learn practical measures so they could be useful birth partners. On the whole, it has worked well, and it is clear that the men have appreciated being involved. Being present at the birth not only enhances the bond between the father and his baby, but also better supports ongoing breastfeeding.

Some of comments following our video yesterday (Giving Birth: Challenges and Choices) highlighted the active involvement of the father. I will be showing a video clip from The Art of Birth today, where the father enthusiastically praises the concept of home birth, as another reminder of the importance of fathers at birth.

The Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, where this workshop is taking place, still has a policy of only one support person at the birth. It is hard to imagine how such an antiquated policy could still be in place and I will be challenging the midwives in this group to press for changes to bring this hospital into line with others elsewhere. It is a discriminatory policy and also a social intervention in birth and it needs to be changed without delay.

Posted by andrea at June 15, 2003 05:47 PM

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Hi Andrea, thought I would also add that a wonderful birth support is the new industry of Doulas. I have just completed the first stage of 80 intensive hours of the role of the doula and many aspects of midwifery (although the doula does not perform any clinical diagnosis) this wonderful event occurred in Southport Qld. with Dr Chris Vose. It was so empowering for me and the other 17 students. So here we are ready to support woman and their partners in conscious birth..thank you gayle

Posted by: Gayle Gijsbers on June 23, 2003 09:53 PM

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