Birthing Partners

• Charu Chhitwal
• 07 Mar 2018
• Parenting ,Health

Birthing Partners can make your delivery a comfortable experience. I know it, because I missed not having one. Years ago, at 5.40 a.m. I was wheeled into a huge room. My husband's smile faded behind the delivery room's door and so did my courage. I was in my eight h month of pregnancy and my water-bag had broken an hour ago. We had attended ante-natal classes together but the provision of a Birthing Partner in the delivery room was not there.

While the gynaecology and paediatric teams got ready for the delivery, my eyes searched for my Birthing Partner. I wished my mom or my husband could have been right there besides me. I wished I could be holding their ere hand and listening to some soothing words in their familiar voices. I was cold, scared and lonely. The joy of giving birth only set in when I was back in my room with my partner, with the twins in our hands.

This is why I pushed my pregnant cousin to choose a hospital that promotes normal deliveries and motivates a pregnant woman and her birthing partner to participate in the process. 

Choose the Right Maternity Hospital
Sitaram Bhartia, a hospital with a 88% normal delivery rate surely cares more for the Child and Mother health.
It provides holistic Antenatal Classes that cover nutrition, healthy lifestyle, labour & delivery, perpetration for the new arrival and postnatal care for a healthy emotional, psychological and physical being of mother and child.
And importantly they indulge the mom-to-be with the comfort of a trained birthing partner by their side. And they guide you post-birth too looking after the physical and emotional well-being of the child and mom.
Their maternity blog also provides helpful tips for normal delivery, and dispels myths around conditions such as cord around neck, thyroid and diabetes during pregnancy.

 Attend Antenatal Classes with Your Birthing Partner

How? Simply sign up for the antenatal classes and attend them with your trusted friend or family member.
The loving staff at the hospital then trains you and your birthing partner - your spouse, mother, sister, mother-in-law or whoever you are comfortable with- for a smooth birthing experience.

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Camille Anna Paglia an American academic and social critic said "The so-called miracle of birth is nature getting her own way".

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You and your Birthing Partner will learn

- How to Recognise the signs of labour: Take this my weekly check-up was fine and I was home enjoying a Hindi movie. In the next half an hour I realised a slight spotting and immediately went back to my doctor. To her surprise I was dilating already. Who knew in the next 20 hours I was going to deliver. You don’t want such surprises creeping in on you. So be informed and enjoy a carefree pregnancy. And take comfort in knowing that your birthing partner will be fully informed too.

- How to handle labour pain with relaxation techniques: The pain is for real and so is the comfort that relaxation techniques can provide. It could be something as basic as breathing in and out or more technical like the candle method - Breathe in with your mouth and breathe out with force, as if to blow a candle. Yes this and much more is what you both get to learn about.

- Exercises and positions to facilitate labour: Yes the dancing doctor in America is a big viral hit. Closer home the doctors at Sitaram will impart with positions and exercises that will ease your body into labour, softly.

- When to leave for the hospital: My biggest fear during pregnancy was 'when and where would I deliver?" I used to imagine what would happen if my water bag broke in a movie hall. What if I was all alone at home? What if I go to pee and come out with a baby in my arms. Yes, when to leave for a hospital is not something you want to wonder about. It is something you and your birthing partner need to be aware about. The first signs. The water-breakage. The High blood pressure or anything else.

- And the importance and role of your birthing partner: At Sitaram Bhartia, they help you and your birthing partner deliver a baby peacefully. They believe in intervening only and if medical supervision is required. Else they are happy to stand on the side and just witness family welcome a new member.

How does a Birthing Partner help during labour and delivery?

1) Provides the comfort of familiarity:  Just having somebody so close and trusted by your side can keep you relaxed and happy during labour. Also the comfort of knowing that somebody is present to look after your wellness, in case of any emergency. 

2) Provides emotional support:  Such a trusted person knows how to put you in a more comfortable spot  through assurances. If need be, your birthing partner could cajole you to follow the instructions better and may give you the strength to go on. 

3) Provides physical support: Without any inhibitions you can ask the person for more physical support, It could be a small gesture like holding hands to rubbing the back or something even more complex. 

4) Makes decision-taking easy: Sometimes a mother-to-be is faced with long labour hours. Decisions like whether to go the natural birthing way, take epidurals or opt for cesareans can be made easier with the birthing partner's advice.

Camille Anna Paglia an American academic and social critic said "The so-called miracle of birth is nature getting her own way". And  I strongly believe that in that moment having a loved one by our side is the warmest welcome we can give to the new being. And having the support of a trustable partner like Sitaram Bhartia can only make it a memorable affair. Are you still wondering if you need a Birthing Partner?