Chapter 10: Giving good care in labor and birth
Support the labor
When you support the mother’s labor, you
help her relax instead of fighting against it.
Although labor support will not make labor
painless, it can make labor easier, shorter,
and safer.
It’s too strong!
I’m scared!
You are
doing fine!
Labor is
supposed to
be strong.
Every woman needs a different kind of
support. But all women need kindness, respect,
and attention. Watch and listen to her to see
how she is feeling. Encourage her, so she can feel strong and confident in labor.
Help her relax and welcome her labor.
I didn’t know that there
was a way I could help
you during the birth.
Yes! I will
feel so much
calmer if you
are with me.
You do not have to work alone to
support the mother. Labor support can
help the most when it is given by the
mother’s husband, family, or friends.
There is no rule about who should support
the mother. It is only important that they
care about the mother and are willing to
help her. Most important, they should be
people the mother wants to have at the
birth.
Guard the labor
When you guard the labor, you protect it from interference. Here are some examples:
Keep rude and unkind people away. The mother should not have to worry
about family problems. Sometimes even supportive and loving friends can interfere
with the labor. At some births, the best way to help is to ask everyone to leave the
room so the mother can labor without being distracted.
Do not use unnecessary drugs or procedures. Some midwives (and doctors)
believe that more drugs, tools, and exams will make the birth safer. But that is
usually not true. They can make the birth harder or cause problems.
WARNING! Do not give the mother drugs to hurry the labor
— they add useless risks. Injections or pills that are supposed to
hurry the birth can make labor more painful, and can kill both
the mother and the baby. See page 191 for ways to strengthen
labor safely.
Can we give an
injection to
hurry the birth?
Injections are
dangerous.
It is not worth
the risk.
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A Book for Midwives (2010)