Cómo ser un compañero de parto solidario durante el nacimiento

¿Qué es una persona de apoyo durante el parto?

A parto partner is someone who is usually close to the embarazada person, such as a partner, trusted friend or relative, who can offer support during the birth experience. Some people hire a doula, who can give emotional and practical support before, during and after childbirth. Although they may have lots of experience of el parto, es posible que no tengan formación médica.

The role of the birth partner varies widely. It can mean keeping the birther calm, fetching them food and drink or advocating for them - communicating what they want or need during trabajo de parto.

"Birth partners are a huge part of the experience of having a bebé. It is very important when preparing to give birth that people feel that their birth partner is prepared, confident and readily able to attend the birth," says Alix Taylor, who co-runs the hypnobirthing organisation The Birth Uprising.

Hypnobirthing teaches relajación techniques such as visualisation, técnica de respiración y mindfulness to improve the experience of labour and birth. It also provides practical information about labour and recovery.

Estudios have suggested that informed birth partners can vastly improve the birth experienced by bridging communication gaps between health workers and women, which can boost confidence. Investigación has also shown that companions can reduce instances of interventions and improve outcomes for childbirth too.

¿Qué hace una persona de apoyo durante el parto?

There is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to being a birth partner. For some women, the emphasis will be on providing emotional apoyo in the form of calming words, breathing techniques and encouragement. For others, a birth partner is there to ensure their preferences are communicated and acknowledged.

"What makes a good birth partner will vary massively depending on what it is that the person who is embarazada would like," says Taylor. "For example, someone who likes everything 'just so' or who is very tidy and organised may need to feel like someone else is confidently taking on that role for them to be able to relax.

"«Esto podría consistir en que la persona que acompaña durante el parto tenga una lista de verificación para asegurarse de que no se olvide nada, en organizar bien las cosas del bebé para encontrarlas fácilmente o en mantener ordenado y limpio el espacio del parto», añade.

Others may need their birth partner to offer primarily emotional apoyo, to help them if they feel ansioso or if they experience any changes in circumstances.

Por último, algunas personas que dan a luz quizá quieran que su acompañante de parto las defienda y sea su «parte racional» durante todo el trabajo de parto, añade Taylor. «Cuando estamos con profesionales, es común que nos cueste defender nuestros intereses y hacer preguntas para obtener más información sin sentir que estamos molestando», dice. «El acompañante de parto puede encargarse de buscar información y ayudar a hablar las cosas»."

Consejos para acompañantes durante el parto

Sea sincero

It is a privilege to be someone's birth partner, but not everyone will be comfortable with the idea. It's essential to be honest and upfront with the person giving birth, so they can organise alternatives or work through any preocupación with you.

"«Esto puede llegar al punto de no querer hacerlo en absoluto, pero también puede referirse a su disposición a desempeñar ciertos aspectos de su papel. Si la persona que acompaña durante el parto no se siente capaz de encargarse de algo importante para quien da a luz, no está todo perdido», afirma Taylor.

Algunas personas pueden optar por contar con un par de acompañantes durante el parto que se sientan seguros en distintos aspectos del apoyo. Por ejemplo, una persona puede ayudar con tareas prácticas y otra ofrecer orientación emocional.

Mantenga la calma

Staying tranquilo is crucial. Witnessing childbirth can be a very intense and stressful experience, but the focus needs to be on the person in trabajo de parto and their needs. Rather than pretending to be calm, it can be more helpful for birth partners to process any fears and ansiedades beforehand, says Taylor. This will mean they feel more confident in their role.

"How a birth partner feels will impact the birther," she says. "We have all been in a room with someone estresado out and felt ourselves become panicked too."

Gestionar las conversaciones

Es posible que la persona acompañante también tenga que gestionar las conversaciones sobre la atención de quien da a luz durante el parto. «Esto puede implicar pedir al personal sanitario que amplíe sus recomendaciones, preguntar por los riesgos y beneficios o solicitar tiempo para hablar de las cosas en privado», dice Taylor.

"The birther may not feel able to advocate for themself in the throes of trabajo de parto and so they will need you to get as much information as possible and help them to process this to help make a decision."

Averigüe qué necesita la persona que da a luz

Birth partners should focus on what the person giving birth wants and how to support them. This can mean developing a plan de parto together, finding out where they want to give birth and if they are OK with certain obstetric interventions. It's important for the parto partner to understand the reasoning behind the birther's preferences.

"A birth partner can help with this by making sure that they are involved in as much preparation for the birth as possible," says Taylor. "If the birther is attending prenatal classes then this should be something that the birth partner does as well wherever possible."

Durante el parto, es posible que las parejas también quieran tomar nota de los acontecimientos importantes, como los horarios de las contracciones y los cambios de ubicación. También pueden ayudar a mantener un ambiente tranquilo y silencioso.

Cuidar de sí mismas

Finally, it's important for birth partners to se cuiden too. This can mean getting rest when possible, de comer, staying hidratado y hablar con amigos de confianza or family members if they are stressed.

Ultimately, a birth partner can only support a birther properly if they are healthy and relaxed. Autocuidado is key and the aircraft analogy is fitting - it's important to put on your own oxygen mask first, before helping someone else with theirs.

Conozca su función en caso de emergencia

It's also crucial for the birth partner to be aware of their role if the birther experiences an emergency or has to have an unplanned cesárea. The birther should discuss with their birth partner whether there are circumstances in which they want them to step forwards or backwards. For example, if the birther wants medical staff to take charge in the likelihood of a serious complication. It's important for the birther and the partner to talk through the plan de parto to include every eventuality.