What is a birth advocate?

If you plan to give birth in a hospital with an OB, most likely you will not know who your labor nurse will be or which doctor will be on call to attend your birth. Unless you are induced, there is a good chance the doctor who did your prenatal care will not be the doctor to deliver your baby.

Going into labor spontaneously is many women’s goal as it is often safer, and your baby may tolerate labor better. So how do you prepare for labor and birth while not knowing who will be there with you and understand your birth preferences?

Will you labor in bed or move around the room? Will you have continuous monitoring? Wireless monitoring? In what position will you deliver your baby? Will you cut the cord right away? Will you do skin-to-skin immediately?

Navigating these questions is where a birth advocate or a doula can be helpful. Their role is to help you define what your birth preferences are. Your birth advocate can help you communicate these plans to your doctor prenatally and the doctor who attends your labor.

When you are in labor and actively having contractions you should not have to explain your birth choices, defend your preferences or plans. You should focus on birthing your baby. Some women plan on their husband or partner advocating for them if the nurse or OB attending is not familiar with her birth plans. But most of the time Dad is overwhelmed trying to support and encourage you! He is going through an intense experience too. It can be helpful to have someone present whose main role is to remind your healthcare team of your preferences and goals. To be the one to speak up when you are in pain and can’t.

Choosing this person is important. Knowing that they understand and support your choices is helpful so that you can trust and relax knowing they are there to stand up for the birth experience you want. Talking with your doula or birth advocate before labor starts about how to navigate common concerns and problems that occur during birth is helpful. Together you can decide how you will handle situations like: prolonged ruptured membranes, failure to progress, back labor pain, nausea during labor…etc.

Your birth advocate can simply be your voice so you can mentally and physically put all of your energy into bringing your baby into the world.