Be the best partner

Tips for birth support

The partner’s role in birth is invaluable and can have a significant impact on the overall birthing experience. Consider these tips:

  • Be the advocate for your partner and baby.

  • Massage your partner’s back.

  • Set up the environment including music, pictures, candles, dim lights.

  • Get water and pre-prepared snacks.

  • Place cool face washers on your partner’s forehead and hot packs on her back.

  • Support your partner in upright & active positions.

  • Encourage breathing techniques.

  • Provide positive encouragement.

Tips for bringing baby home

  • Be patient and understanding of yourself, your partner and baby.

  • Make time for skin to skin with baby.

  • Refill your partner’s water bottles and put them next to where she feeds the baby.

  • If you are bottle feeding, know the routine and share the feeding including preparing the milk and sterilizing the bottles.

  • Encourage rest and self-care. Take the baby for a walk so your partner can have a nap.

  • Divide and conquer: share the household load and baby care. Including nappies, settling, bath time, cooking, laundry.

  • Read about the physical limitations on your partner’s postpartum body and encourage optimal recovery.

  • Communicate with each other about both your mental health and wellbeing.

  • Offer words of encouragement all the time.