Supporting Yourself

It’s not enough to plan to support a laboring woman. You have to have a plan to support yourself, because after this baby comes out, you’ve got your partner and a baby to take care of.

• Consider having another coach there. This is a great way to ensure the laboring woman has all the help she needs and you’re not so worn down you can’t enjoy the experience. Your other coach can also learn all of the comfort techniques and positions so if you forget something, it’s not the end of the world. Your back-up coach can be a friend, family member or a doula. A doula is a professional coach whose job it is to physically and emotionally support the two of you.

• Wear comfortable clothes. If you’re worried you’re going to show up to the birth in your business attire, pack a spare change of clothes in your labor bag. Try to wear sweat or yoga pants and a t-shirt, if possible. You’ll also want a jacket or a sweatshirt since hospitals are cold places. You want these clothes to be clothes you can hold a laboring woman comfortably in, and sleep in if needs be. Don’t forget the shoes either. Good shoes include sneakers or clogs.

• Eat. If you’re completely exhausted, try getting a bite to eat. Eating can give you an energy boost, helping you deal with exhaustion. It’ll also keep your blood sugar from getting too low, may prevent crankiness and may prevent fainting at the big moment.
  Good foods for coaches include smoothies, power bars, yogurt, non-smelly sandwiches and fruit. Make sure it’s something you can take a bite out of and put down. It also should be something that ideally gives you a good protein and good carb boost, without being hard to digest or too smelly.

• Watch your positions. You may be getting so caught up in the moment, you’re missing your body’s signal that tells you what you’re doing is uncomfortable. You also may think she’s in so much pain, why should you complain about a little knee or back pain? But pain in you can sap your energy and make you cranky. Use chairs and pillows to make yourself comfortable as you support a laboring women. Put pillows under your knees and at your lower back if you need to. If she’s not using the birthing ball, consider sitting on it yourself. Taking care of yourself will help make the experience more enjoyable and keep your energy levels up.

• Take a break. It may seem impossible, but sometimes during long labors, coaches need breaks. They need to run to the bathroom or get out of the room for a minute to take a deep breath and readjust their emotions. This can also help with your energy levels. Try to time the breaks between contractions or ask a nurse to come in and support your partner for a few minutes.