Benefits Of Being Accompanied During Childbirth – I’m A Mom
The mere presence of a familiar face during childbirth is a great encouragement for any mother.
Currently, it is quite common for the mother to be accompanied when giving birth.
This companion can be a family member, a friend, or a doula. However, this practice was impossible a while ago.
Some hospitals still have several restrictions regarding follow-up during childbirth.
But little by little they are becoming more and more flexible due to the benefits this brings to the mother-to-be.
Studies on this issue have shown that, in fact, a pregnant woman feels better having someone she trusts by her side to offer support and support in a stressful situation.
There are a multitude of benefits to being accompanied during childbirth.
Next, we’ll show you just seven so that you can learn a little more about the advantages of bringing your baby into the world with the people you love.
1. Delivery is shorter when you are accompanied
Being constantly accompanied reduces the duration of labor.
It has been proven that a company can reduce the time of this process by up to 43 minutes.
This happens due to the calm and tranquility that the company provides the mother.
In addition, anxiety and fear of giving birth can influence the baby’s heart rate, causing contractions to take longer, consequently making the delivery longer.
2. Childbirth is easier with someone by your side
Accompanied mothers are more likely to have a natural birth without the need for anesthesia, rather than an instrumented birth.
Research suggests that support during childbirth improves a mother’s sense of control and empowerment.
This makes the dependence on medical interventions significantly reduced, including epidural anesthesia.
By reducing stress levels, the baby’s passage through the pelvis also becomes easier, making the whole process smoother.
3. The birth experience is better if you are not alone
Mothers who were monitored during childbirth were more satisfied with the experience than those who went through the process alone.
Satisfaction is greater especially for mothers who counted as the presence of their partner from the beginning of the process.
4. Your (or your) companion can help time the intervals of contractions
The person who will accompany you can help time the time from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.
If the interval is 8 to 10 minutes and each contraction lasts between 30 and 45 seconds, it means that it is almost time for delivery.
5. Your companion can keep in touch with the doctor who will deliver the baby.
Being in constant contact with your doctor is very important. That’s because, that way, he can help you and tell you when you should go to the hospital.
This is based, of course, on the duration and interval of contractions.
6. Reassure, encourage and support
When you are tense, your body becomes extremely rigid, making the process difficult. Or it may even happen that you need to have a caesarean.
It is at these times that you will most need a companion to reassure, encourage and support you.
Knowing that childbirth does not develop naturally and that medical intervention will be required makes the mother even more vulnerable.
Therefore, the support and calm that your companion can provide is extremely important.
7. Attention to basic needs (thirst, cold, heat…) during childbirth
From the moment the bag breaks, you will need a lot of attention from your partner.
Communication between you is very important for this person to help you not to miss anything when you need it most.
The companion must be very patient, especially if you are a mother for the first time.
This person, therefore, should convey security to you during childbirth with motivating words, holding your hands and always reminding you to breathe.
