The Role of a Birth Partner

Birthing partners have an important role in supporting women in labour. The role of a birth partner is to give you practical and emotional support when you're in labour.

There are lots of benefits to having a birth partner, and midwives and obstetricians are encouraged to get birth partners involved in the birth. There's evidence that if you have continuous, one-to-one support, you may cope better with labour, and be happier with your birth experience.

Midwives working on busy labour wards struggle to give women one-to-one support. A single midwife may be caring for several women in labour. You may have different midwives looking after you during your labour, as one shift ends and another begins. Choosing someone you know to support you can make the experience less scary, and help to boost your confidence.