Bringing Calm, Comfort and Connection to the Birth Room in Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Are you feeling or unsure about your role in the birth room?
You are not alone.
Many partners worry about being a ‘spare wheel’ during birth, but the truth is, your involvement is invaluable.
You can play a key role in creating a calm, comforting environment that helps your partner feel supported and empowered.
But how do you get prepared to support your partner? What does your ideal birth experience look like and how can you make it happen in the birth room in Woodstock, Oxfordshire?
Step 1. Educate yourself
Take the time to immerse yourself in the birth process. While your partner has no choice but to experience it physically, pregnancy can feel isolating when it’s not happening to you. By learning about birth, you’ll better understand what she’s going through and how to support her. This will help you feel more involved and prepared.
- Attend all the appointments and scans in Oxfordshire: Whether you’re visiting your local GP or attending a hospital in Oxfordshire, be there for every appointment and scan. Prepare questions together and write them down (it’s easy to forget in the moment!). Don’t hesitate to ask the midwife, doctor, or consultant if something doesn’t feel right. Use the BRAIN technique:
- BRAIN stands for:
- B- Benefits
- R-Risks
- A- Alternatives
- I- Instinct
- N-Nothing
- This simple tool helps you make informed during the birth process.
- Download helpful apps: You know, the ones that compare your baby to fruits or animals. They offer useful weekly updates about your baby’s development. Discuss these with your partner to stay connected to the process.
- Read Books: look for books specifically for birth partners, especially those that match the type of birth you’re planning (hospital birth, home birth, or birthing centre birth in Oxfordshire). Knowledge is power, and books can provide valuable insight.
- For some book recommendations look here
- Listen to Podcasts: There are tonnes of helpful podcasts out there, from birth stories to expert advice. The Midwives Cauldron is a popular one in the UK. Share any interesting insights with your partner to keep the conversations going.
- Take Antenatal and Hypnobirthing Courses in Woodstock, Oxfordshire: These courses are an excellent way to get actively involved in the birth process and ensure you’re well-prepared for the big day.
It’s crucial that the person giving birth understands what’s happening to their body. But just as importantly, you need to understand the process too. In the right environment, her body will do what it’s meant to. It’s your job to create that environment.
Step 2. Boost her Oxytocin- Become the Oxytocin Guru
Through your research, you’ll quickly learn how crucial oxytocin (the ‘love hormone’) is to the birth process. There are many ways you can support your partner and boost her oxytocin, especially as she enters her third trimester.
- Massage– hand or foot massages can be incredibly soothing for your partner. Use pregnancy-safe oils like lavender for a calming experience as you relax together
- Sort the house- take care of those last-minute tasks she can’t get to or those that are stressing her out. A tidy space can help her relax
- Relaxation: Encourage her to practice her hypnobirthing techniques and attend a pregnancy relaxation class.
- Try our Radiant Birth Club a pregnancy relaxation and hypnobirthing class here, held in Woodstock. Oxfordshire.
- Encourage Movement- suggest gentle walks, pregnancy yoga, or bounce on that ball to help her stay comfortable and relaxed.
- Try Blooming Well Pregnancy Yoga held in Woodstock, Oxfordshire here
- Make her laugh– keep things light-hearted. Be silly together, watch a funny film, Laughter is an instant oxytocin boost!
Step 3- Plan your Ideal Birth
After having taken your antenatal course (or during it as it will provoke numerous discussions) plan out your ideal birth together. Listen to her fears and hopes and come up with a plan that works. This might mean getting comfortable with something that you find uncomfortable. For example, if she wants a home birth but you think she should be in hospital, remember she is the one giving birth here. Although once you have done your research you may well already be fully on board with a home birth.
- Plan for all eventualities: Have an A, B and C birth plan in place. Even if a caesarean isn’t part of your ideal plan, consider it as an option so you’re prepared if it becomes necessary.
- Your Birth Plan: Make sure you fully understand the birth plan and are ready to implement it, ensuring her needs are met without her having to step out of her comfort zone.
Step 4- Prepare for the Big Day
At the end of the day, it all comes down to you. You’ll set up the birth room, create the right atmosphere, and have everything ready -nappies, baby clothes, maternity pads, snacks.
How can you do all of that without planning, packing, and preparing in advance?
- The atmosphere: your emotions set the tone in the birth room. If you’re feeling anxious, it’s important to conform those feelings and work through them ahead of birth.
- The birth room: You and your partner will have discussed the setup, but it’s your job to arrange it exactly as she wants, wherever you are. At home, set up the space well in advance. Whether at home, a birth centre, or a hospital in Oxfordshire, make sure everything is arranged just as she prefers.
- For some ideas look here
- Pack the bag: You need to know where everything is at a moment’s notice. Take charge of packing the bag, and make sure it’s ready well in advance, so it’s there when you need it.
- SNACKS! Research the best snacks for labour and discuss options with your partner. Have a variety ready, along with plenty of fluids. When offering snacks, skip the question- simply say, “Here’s some banana.” This eliminates the need for a decision and helps keep things moving smoothly.
Step 5- The Big Day- Your Role in action
Now is the time all your oxytocin-boosting efforts will pay off. As the Oxytocin Guru, you know your partner best and, hopefully, have figured out what works best for her.
- Early Labour: Rest, rest and more rest. Keep things calm- excitement can actually disrupt oxytocin. Now is the time for massages, baths and sleep. Put on a film and cuddle.
- Birth Space: lower the lights, close the blinds, set up the candles and the fairy lights (at home, birth centre or hospital in Oxfordshire).
- Gatekeeper: Protect the birth space. Keep stress, distractions, and unnecessary conversations out, allowing your partner to focus on her process.
- Advocate: speak up for your partner if her needs aren’t being met.
- Physical support: Help her change positions and support her as needed. Use hot/cold flannels, light touch massages, and suggests ways to improve comfort.
- Look after yourself: Don’t forget to eat and drink (find a quiet moment if needed). Rest when you can to stay energised.
- Emotional Support: Stay present, listen to her, and provide gentle reassurance. This will help her stay calm and supported during labour.
Be the Oxytocin Guru
By preparing yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally, you’ll be ready to step into the birth room as a calm and confident support partner. Now go ahead and start planning and remember: your presence is everything. Be the oxytocin guru your partner deserves!
Now, take the first step and book that Antenatal and Hypnobirhting class. You’ll find all the details you need below.
Courageous Births and Beyond Empowering Calm, Confident Birth 