5 Ways Partners Can Prepare for Labor and Delivery

Labor and delivery can be one of the most intense and transformative experiences a couple will go through together. While much of the focus is understandably on the birthing person, partners play a critical role before, during, and after birth. Here are five powerful ways partners can prepare for labor and delivery to provide meaningful support and be truly present in the moment.

1. Get Educated Together

One of the best ways to prepare is to take a childbirth education class together. These classes provide an understanding of the stages of labor, pain management options, and medical interventions. Learning about the birthing process helps reduce anxiety and empowers both of you with knowledge. As a partner, knowing what’s happening allows you to offer reassurance and advocate effectively when needed.

• Tip: Look for classes that also focus on partner roles, comfort techniques, and postpartum care.

2. Create a Birth Plan as a Team

A birth plan isn’t just for the birthing person—it’s a communication tool for the whole team. Discuss preferences for the birth setting, pain relief, interventions, and immediate postpartum care. Make sure both of you are on the same page so the partner can help communicate your wishes during labor when decisions may need to be made quickly.

• Tip: Keep it flexible—birth can be unpredictable. Think of the birth plan as a guide, not a script.

3. Practice Comfort Measures

Learn and practice hands-on support techniques like massage, counter-pressure, breathing cues, and position changes. These skills can make a big difference during labor, especially if a partner knows how and when to use them.

Tip: Ask your doula or childbirth educator to show you labor positions and touch techniques that can help ease pain.

4. Prepare Emotionally and Mentally

Labor can bring up strong emotions for both of you. Partners may feel helpless, anxious, or overwhelmed watching a loved one in pain. Talk through expectations, fears, and communication styles ahead of time. Build a toolkit of calming techniques like grounding exercises, mantras, or even playlists that help both of you stay centered.

• Tip: Remind yourself that your calm energy can be one of the greatest gifts you bring to the room.

5. Pack Smart and Plan Ahead

Know what’s in the hospital or birth center bag—snacks, comfort items, phone chargers, ID, and copies of your birth plan. Also plan for logistics: transportation, parking, child or pet care if needed, and knowing the route to your chosen facility. Having these details sorted helps reduce stress when labor starts.

• Tip: Include items for the partner, too—comfortable clothes, toiletries, and something to keep you nourished and rested.

Labor is a team effort. When partners are prepared, it creates a supportive, grounded environment that allows the birthing person to feel safe, heard, and empowered. Preparation doesn’t mean perfection—it means showing up, being present, and doing your best with love and intention.

Want personalized guidance for your birth journey? Reach out for doula support, childbirth classes, or partner coaching to feel fully equipped for the big day.

Not Ties As In Shoes

Lip ties, tongue ties, and cheek ties are all types of oral tethered tissues (also called tethered oral tissues or TOTs). These occur when the frenulum (the small fold of tissue that anchors parts of the mouth) is too tight, short, or thick, restricting movement. This can impact feeding, speech, and oral development.

Symptoms of Oral Ties in Infants

1. Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia):

• Difficulty latching or staying latched during breastfeeding

• Clicking sound while nursing

• Gassy or fussy behavior during feeds

• Poor weight gain or slow growth

• Tongue appears heart-shaped when extended or has limited movement

• Difficulty lifting or moving tongue side to side

• Reflux symptoms or excessive spit-up

2. Lip Tie:

• Shallow latch or loss of suction while feeding

• Painful nursing for the parent (nipple damage, soreness)

• Baby has difficulty flanging upper lip outward

• Milk dribbling from mouth during feeds

• Gaps between upper front teeth (in older infants/children)

• Blisters on lips from friction

3. Cheek Tie (Buccal Tie):

Less commonly diagnosed, but may cause:

• Difficulty creating suction

• Pain for the nursing parent

• Poor latch that slips frequently

• Prolonged or inefficient feedings

• Gagging or choking during feeding

How to Feed or Nurse a Baby with Oral Ties

Breastfeeding Tips:

• Positioning is key: Try laid-back or upright positions to support better latch and gravity.

• Deep latch: Encourage a deep latch by supporting baby’s shoulders and tilting the head slightly back.

• Lip flip: Gently flip the upper lip out to help improve suction.

• Breast compressions: Can help milk flow more easily, reducing frustration for baby.

• Work with a lactation consultant (IBCLC): Especially one trained in oral ties.

Bottle Feeding Tips:

• Use paced bottle feeding to mimic breastfeeding flow.

• Choose a slow-flow nipple to help baby control milk intake.

• Ensure baby’s chin is tilted down and mouth is wide open before inserting the bottle.

• Burp often to manage gas or discomfort.

  Additional Support

Craniosacral therapy or bodywork: May help with muscle tension related to oral ties.

Speech or feeding therapy: If older infants or children are struggling with solids or speech.

Frenectomy/frenotomy: A minor procedure to release the tight frenulum, typically done by a pediatric dentist, ENT, or specialist.

Top 10 Benefits of Taking a Childbirth Education Class

Bringing a new life into the world is one of the most profound experiences you’ll ever have. But it can also come with fear, uncertainty, and countless questions. That’s where childbirth education classes come in. These classes aren’t just for first-time parents—they’re a powerful tool for anyone who wants to feel informed, confident, and prepared for the journey of birth.

Here are the top 10 benefits of taking a childbirth education class:

1. Build Confidence

Learning what to expect and how your body works during labor helps you trust your instincts and feel more in control of the process. Knowledge truly is power when it comes to childbirth.

2. Reduce Fear & Anxiety

Fear of the unknown can intensify labor pain. Education helps reduce anxiety by replacing the unknown with information and options, making you feel more at ease before and during labor.

3. Understand the Stages of Labor

Knowing the phases of labor—early, active, transition, and pushing—can help you recognize what’s happening in real time and how to respond or cope.

4. Partner Involvement

Classes aren’t just for birthing people. They also equip partners or support people with tools to provide physical, emotional, and verbal support during labor and delivery.

5. Learn Pain Management Techniques

From breathing and visualization to position changes and massage, you’ll learn how to manage pain naturally and work with your body during labor.

6. Explore Birth Options

Should you birth at home, in a hospital, or at a birth center? Do you want an epidural or not? Classes help you explore these choices and understand the pros and cons of each.

7. Make Informed Decisions

Childbirth comes with a lot of decisions—about interventions, medications, and your care team. Classes help you weigh your options and advocate for your preferences.

8. Prepare for the Postpartum Period

Many classes also cover newborn care, breastfeeding, and what to expect in the days and weeks after birth—topics that are often overlooked but critically important.

9. Create a Birth Plan

A birth plan communicates your wishes to your provider. In class, you’ll learn how to write a flexible, informed birth plan that reflects your values and goals.

10. Build Community

Connecting with other expecting families can be incredibly validating and supportive. You’ll share experiences, ask questions, and maybe even make a few friends for the parenting journey ahead.

Childbirth education is about so much more than facts—it’s about empowerment. It helps you understand your body, your choices, and your power. Whether you’re giving birth in a hospital, birthing center, or at home, education gives you the tools to approach your birth with confidence and calm.

Interested in taking a class? karissa@doulasofempowerment.com (606)407-7724

Self-Care for New Moms: Tips from a Postpartum Doula

Bringing a new baby home is magical—and exhausting. As a postpartum doula, I’ve seen firsthand how often new moms put themselves last. But here’s a secret: taking care of yourself is not selfish—it's essential. You can't pour from an empty cup. Here are some simple, realistic ways new moms can prioritize self-care, even during the busiest days.

1. Redefine Self-Care

Forget bubble baths and spa days if they feel impossible. Self-care is anything that recharges you: eating nourishing food, asking for help, resting when you can, or simply taking five deep breaths when the baby naps on your chest.

2. Nap > Everything Else

It’s tempting to clean or scroll your phone during naptime, but rest is sacred in the postpartum season. Prioritize sleep whenever possible. Dishes can wait—your healing cannot.

3. Ask for Help (and Accept It)

You don’t have to do it all alone. Lean on friends, family, your doula, or community resources. Saying "yes" to help is an act of strength, not weakness.

4. Feed Yourself Well

Postpartum bodies are healing, and they need fuel. Keep easy snacks handy—like trail mix, smoothies, hard-boiled eggs, or yogurt. If someone offers to cook for you, say yes!

5. Move Gently

When your provider clears you, gentle movement (think stretching, walking, or simple yoga) can help boost mood and energy. No need for intense workouts—your body is doing amazing work just by healing.

6. Protect Your Mind

Limit visitors, social media, and anything that makes you feel "less than." Postpartum is a vulnerable time. Surround yourself with people and content that feel nourishing, not draining.

7. Create Small Rituals

Little moments can bring you back to yourself: lighting a candle in the morning, savoring a warm cup of tea, journaling one gratitude thought each day. Tiny rituals create grounding during a whirlwind season.