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Supporting the supporters

Abstract:

There has been much change in the practice of midwifery in recent times. A strong motivation for this has come from listening to the needs and wishes of women. We have heard that women are wanting to choose their companions to be with them through the birth, whether they be the baby's father, her mother, a close woman friend, or a group o family and friends. Jean talks about the importance of having this choice in birth: "I am really, really, really pleased you are here Gareth. It makes all the difference in the world, you holding me - you have no idea" and later, "It sounds corny to go on about it but to have that person who you know best in the world to hang on to, to listen to, to remind you of practical things". (McKenna, 1998, p.126, 129). In her introduction to Birth Reborn, Sheila Kitzinger writes: "Fathers are now encouraged to share in childbirth, but our society has made a mockery of the loving passionate participation a man can feel when he is fully involved in the drama of birth, not just a 'voguer' at delivery... A midwife's actions and behaviour can be crucial in enabling a woman to choose, by welcoming her supporters, and ensuring that they can share positively in the birth process.

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building relationships, emotional support during labour, partnership, women's choice