Birth Partners – on the day, remember your umbrella & your brain 🙂
These acronymns can help remind you of things to encourage your partner to do when in labour.
Upright positions – reminder her to try different ones
Massage & movement – help her to feel comfortable
Breathing – slow down your breathing & get her to breathe with you if she’s panicking
Relaxation – any techniques you both find helpful
Eating & drinking – offer between surges
Loo – remind her to regularly empty her bladder
Love – touch, hugs, verbal support & encouragement
Assertiveness – ask about & discuss your options
Plus the fantastic BRAIN questioning tool when being faced with a non-emergency change of plan or suggestion to something.
What are the: Benefits?
What are the: Risks?
What are the: Alternatives?
What do my: Instincts tell me?
What if we do: Nothing for a while?*
*can we have a few moments alone to process what has been suggested – or longer if it’s something being offered in advance such as an induction in a week’s time, for example.