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This need arises from our unique evolutionary path—human infants have relatively large heads in proportion to the birth canal. This makes human deliveries a more complex and dangerous process than in other species. A recent study conducted at Dartmouth College revealed that women who did not receive the support they desired during childbirth experienced significantly higher levels of stress. This increase was equivalent to the stress women experience during a cesarean section.
Benefits of Support During Childbirth
Just a few decades ago, a nonmedical person’s presence during labor was nearly impossible, let alone having multiple people present. Today, more than two-thirds of women worldwide choose to give birth with a trusted individual: their partner, relatives, close friends, a doula, etc.
According to a comprehensive review of the Cochrane Database, continuous support during labor shortens its duration by over 40 minutes and reduces the rate of cesarean sections by more than 25%. Additionally, women who were accompanied by a trusted person were much less likely to require any type of pain relief and were generally more satisfied with their births. For newborns, support meant a higher score on the Apgar scale.
The benefits of emotional support also extended into the postpartum period. Women who received emotional support had significantly lower chances of developing postpartum depression and were more likely to breastfeed their babies.
For most of our history, humans have been supported in childbirth by people, usually women, whom they knew and trusted. Our study highlights the stress that results when people do not have access to that type of support.
Zaneta Thayer, corresponding author, associate professor of anthropology at Dartmouth
During the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 30% of surveyed women were unable to receive the support they desired during labor. Hospital restrictions forced many women to give birth with limited support or alone. Meanwhile, even the WHO recommended that hospitals provide conditions for partner-assisted births in medical facilities. However, these recommendations were largely ignored.
Looking Toward the Future
While the research focused on the limitations during the pandemic, its results have broader implications. Fourteen percent of women reported that medical staff appeared “busy, inattentive, or unavailable.” It turned out that this was associated with higher levels of stress during labor. Interestingly, higher education correlated with even more stress, likely reflecting higher expectations or awareness of potential complications.
Researchers emphasize that access to emotional support is crucial for improving birth outcomes. Although the pandemic created unprecedented challenges, it also highlighted the importance of policies that prioritize emotional and physical support during deliveries.
We know that making people feel safe, secure, and supported during labor improves maternal and child outcomes. So, maintaining access to emotional support during labor and delivery should always be a priority when possible, including in the case of public health or other emergencies.
Zaneta Thayer
To help you better understand the processes occurring in the body during pregnancy and childbirth, Natalia Silina, founder of the Women’s Health School and a gynecologist-endocrinologist, has prepared a course titled Pregnancy and Postpartum–The Complete Guide. The convenient online format allows you to prepare for childbirth at your own pace and in your own time.
I’m eager to offer these courses in English. Please send a request to dr.silinaeducation@gmail.com.
For comprehensive check-ups in preparation for pregnancy and high-quality support during pregnancy, experienced specialists at the “Lior” Medical Center are available. To make an appointment, call +380 73 200 6198 or reach us via this number on Telegram.
