What Makes a Good Birth Partner?

Volunteering as a Birth Partner is a big commitment and a really important way to support better outcomes for pregnant women in Cardiff. 

Our volunteers come from many backgrounds, cultures, ages and career paths. They’re as unique as the women we support. The Birth Partner Project doesn’t expect our volunteers to have previous experience in a birth partnering role, so we provide in-depth training and on-going support. But we do have some ‘soft skill’ prerequisites that only a special kind of person has.

A positive and calm approach

A good birth partner knows that being a calm and comforting presence has the potential to be much more than meets the eye. In a world where productivity is valued, birth partners know that birth can’t be scheduled and a positive and patience approach will create space and ease for labouring women.

Dedicated to anti-oppression

The principle of “doing no harm” can be found across many disciples that involve serving people. However ‘harm’ might be much more convert than we realise and mere awareness  or lack of direct harm is not enough. We must be actively trying to deconstruct oppression and lower barriers in our interactions. This means using language and behaviours that do not perpetuate hierarchy, patriarchy etc. A great birth partner finds creative ways to champion equity so that they are truely standing in solidarity with women.

Non-judgemental

How birth “should” look will be greatly varied from person to person. Life experience, education, personal or vicarious traumas and so on will all play a part in our idealised version of what “good’ pregnancy or birth is. Being a birth partner is a non-medical role and so while we encourage women to be informed about the process of birthing and their choices, we must remove any ambitions of being the professional or expert at the door. Creating space for women to confined in you about their fears, hopes and expectations means being fully present, letting go of preconceived notions of what we’d like for them (or ourselves) and really listening. When we act from a place of non-judgement we open to cultural safety and genuine acceptance that peoples’ belief systems can form a different truth from what we know.

Strong communication

Whether it’s updating your team during a labour, liaising with the volunteer coordinator or using an interpreter service; being willing and able to communicate well with others is essential. This includes knowing when to communicate a boundary or when you need help. 

We expect birth partners to have basic I.T. skills and access to a digital device however we aim to make the role as accessible as possible are always open to how we can do this better.

Ability to support self advocacy

Questioning the status quo might not be second nature to all our birth partners however in order for there to be real consent, choices need to be fully informed. Our work is not about speaking on behalf of women but reminding them, if necessary, that they have a voice. An important one. Role playing how to ask open questions in a medical setting, expressing their wishes or finding creative ways to find out their preferences can be a really rewarding and bond-forming part of the volunteer role. 

Curious to learn more about volunteering for The Birth Partner Project? Get in touch and we’ll be in touch about our next recruitment round.