Book Review - The Birth Partner

The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and Other Labor Companions
by Penny Simkin




I did not read this book since I'm not the birth partner- Patrick did! So he's going to provide the book review....

Hello everyone! After some encouragement from Courtney, we borrowed The Birth Partner from the local library. As the birth partner, I am called to be the major support system for my wife, a role I cherish and hope to fulfill to the best of my ability. With help from The Birth Partner I am better prepared to actively take part in our baby's birth.

This book is extremely detailed and has given me a great deal of insight into what I must do as the husband and father. For instance, when mom is beginning her pre-birthing waves (contractions), it is imperative to keep track of pressure wave frequency and length. As the pre-birthing waves continue and become more frequent, if the birth partner has done his job, you can avoid an unnecessarily early trip to the birthing center. Depending on your situation (hospital, birthing center, home birth), timing can be extremely important. If you arrive too early, mom can become discouraged by what would appear as a lack of progression, when in fact it's just not the right time. As time goes on, things can get stressful, and unwanted interventions could begin. On the other hand, if the birth partner (that's me) has diligently monitored mom's pressure waves and follows the suggestions listed in The Birth Partner, we can avoid a potentially stressful situation. This will lead to a happy, low-anxiety birthing time. And mom, dad, and baby can meet each other in a comforting welcoming environment.

The Birth Partner starts with your role during pregnancy. This importance of making sure mom gets the calories, protein, and water her changing body needs. From there, you enter your role during pre-birthing waves. This section includes information about comfort and how you can help mom during this important time. It breaks down what she might be feeling, what you might be feeling, what you must do to make sure mom is as comfortable as possible, and what your doula does, if you've hired one. The doula sections were very helpful, because it gives the birth partner information on how an experienced doula would handle any point during the birthing time. Next up, birthing time. The Birth Partner outlines what you need to do as the husband in all situations. This information is invaluable, because you will be the one who needs to field any questions and handle any situations, because mom is a little busy... Finally, the books tells you what to do once the baby arrives and how to handle the first few hours and days, including infant care and breastfeeding.

If you're getting close to your birthing time and you want to make sure you're prepared as best you can be, I recommend reading this book. It's an easy and informative read, with a lot of useful resources you can keep on hand when the birthing time begins. I was out running with a friend the other day, and he told me when it comes to your birthing time and being a parent, you can pretty much throw the books out the window. That may be true, but I believe you don't want to go into a test without having studied before hand. Plus, the book gives tools of what to do during unexpected circumstances. This isn't just an idealized to-do list, but better prepares the birth partner to handle all types of situations, hopefully keeping the "oh crap" moments to a minimum. I now have knowledge of labor and normal progression, so I won't be just an ornament in the room, but a true helper. So, dads, read this book, be prepared, love on your wife, and enjoy a glorious and exciting birthing. It will only be the beginning of the most life-changing, important experience of your lives.