11/14/2025
Partners, the best thing you can do to help your loved one in labor is to just be present and not necessarily do anything.
1. Be present, Stay close, hold hands. You don't have to do anything but these things for most of labor.
2. Protect the space. Ask negative or rough people to leave. If you feel like the laboring person is struggling internally, ask about it. All thoughts and feelings are okay, your job is to validate, reassure and stay calm.
3. Offer sips of water/electrolytes between every contraction. Don't ask, just offer by placing the cup with a straw near their mouth and saying "here is a sip of...."
4. Use your voice and express confidence in the process, the support team, your partner. Express love by telling them loving thoughts. Express admiration, out loud in front of other people.
5. Help them feel comfortable with your touch by massaging them, giving counterpressure in the back and hips and helping them into different positions every 1/2 hour or so. If your partner feels that touch is too intense, check back in and offer touch another time-sensations can change throughout labor.
Supporting your partner throughout labor is an act of love. It can be amazing, difficult and stressful too. Take a good childbirth class to help you feel prepared for your role. Consider hiring a doula to help you feel more confident, give you ideas of things to say and do and to have extra hands for massage, counter pressure and tasks so you can stay by your partners side.
