What is emotional support for childbirth?
Birth doulas provide emotional support, physical support, informational support, and advocacy before, during, and immediately following childbirth. But what does that all mean? This week, we’re going to dive into emotional support. What is emotional support for childbirth, what does it look like, and why is it beneficial for the entire family?
Childbirth is not only a physical journey, it’s also an emotional experience. Childbirth can bring joy, fear, vulnerability, empowerment, and everything in between. That’s why emotional support is a core component of the birth doula role. Emotional support refers to the continuous presence, reassurance, empathy, and encouragement a birthing person receives during their journey. It helps build confidence, reduce anxiety, and create a safe and supportive environment, something every birthing person deserves. Doulas offer emotional support in a variety of ways, for not only the birthing client, but to the partner, siblings, anyone on the birth team, tailored to each individual’s needs and preferences. Emotional support can look different in each stage of the childbirth journey. This may look like:
Listening without judgment
Helping the family process emotions around birth
Encouraging confidence and connection through affirmations and reassurance
Guiding the birthing person and partner in preparing emotionally for labor and postpartum
Staying calm and grounded no matter what’s happening in the birth space
Offering verbal encouragement and affirmations during labor
Helping partners feel confident in their role and stay emotionally connected
Validating the emotional experience of birth
Holding space for processing the birth story
Providing reassurance during the transition to parenthood
Supporting the emotional wellbeing of both the birthing person and their partner
Birth doulas offer more than just presence. Doulas bring calm, compassion, and unwavering support when it’s needed most. If you're planning your birth and want someone by your side who truly understands the emotional challenges of pregnancy, childbirth, and early postpartum, consider working with a birth doula. You deserve to feel emotionally supported as you birth your baby!