Episode #020 - Cheerleaders, Not Rescuers: What Partners Need to Know About Supporting Birth

The Midwife Memos with Lauretta Hamilton - Podcast

This week on The Midwife Memos, we’re talking directly to partners and support people — and what it really means to support someone through labour.

Because there is often a misconception about what their role is… 

And it isn’t to fix or rescue.

It’s to be a calm, grounded presence.

A cheerleader (without the pom poms!) Someone who can hold space AND be an advocate

In this episode, I walk you through:

– why labour can feel overwhelming for support people (and why that’s normal)

– the common “fix and save” mindset — and why it can actually make things harder

– understanding pain in labour vs pain that signals somethings wrong

– how your beliefs about birth impact your ability to support

– how to support safety (and why this matters for labour progress)

– practical ways to advocate — even if you’re not medical

– and why sometimes… it’s not about doing anything at all

This is such an important conversation if you’re preparing for birth together — because a good support person can have a huge impact & matters more than most people realise.

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