Who can be a birth partner?

Whoever you choose to support you at your baby’s birth, it is important to remember that it’s your decision and that you will benefit from feeling as relaxed and confident as possible. Birth supporters are often partners but can also be family members, friends or professional supporters.

Partners

About 97% of fathers are now present at the birth of their children. This represents a major change from 40 years ago, when partners were not always welcome in delivery rooms.

Most partners describe being at their child’s birth as one of the most moving moments of their life. But some men feel concerned about being their partner’s only supporter. Equally, some women don’t want their partners seeing them go through labour, while others are worried about how their partner will cope.

There are other ways of being supported in labour. You can have more than one birthing partner present for a vaginal birth (there may be restrictions if you are having a caesarean). Having two birthing partners can ease the pressure on each of them – enabling them to go to the loo or take a break without leaving you alone.

Family members or friends

Women have supported other women during birth for thousands of years. You could ask your mother or mother-in-law, sister, or a good friend (maybe one who has given birth herself) to support you. Whoever you choose, you need to know them well enough to feel really comfortable and relaxed with them.

Professionals

Professionally, you could choose an independent midwife, a doula or an NCT birth companion:

• Independent midwives are usually self-employed and work alongside, but not as part of, the NHS. An independent midwife can provide all your antenatal and postnatal care, as well as being there for the birth. 
• There are two types of doula, birth and postnatal, and some cover both areas. A birth doula is there to offer physical and emotional support to you and your partner during labour and for your birth.
• NCT Birth Companions provide one-to-one support for parents from late pregnancy, through labour, birth, and into the first hours and weeks with their new baby. The service is available for a fee for mothers and couples. Maternity units can also contact NCT to provide this service free of charge to women from disadvantaged groups or those with special needs during labour and birth. 

If you are going to be a birthing partner, you might like to read our tips for birth partners and the guide to labour. 

Further information

NCT's helpline offers practical and emotional support in all areas of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood: 0300 330 0700. We also offer antenatal courses which are a great way to find out more about birth, labour and life with a new baby.

NCT also offers a doula service for parents. 

Doula UK provides information about doula services in the UK.

NHS choices offers tips for birth partners and advice on preparing a birth plan.