From Scrubs to Support: Why an Educated Birth Support Person Can Transform Your Birth Experience
By Lilacs in Bloom Birthcare
When I worked as a labor and delivery nurse, I witnessed birth from within the medical model. I saw strength, struggle, courage—and unfortunately, sometimes confusion, fear, and lack of support. Now, as a doula, I support birthing women from the outside of that system, but I bring with me the insight of someone who knows how it works from the inside. This dual perspective has only strengthened my belief in this truth: every birthing person deserves an educated birth support person by their side.
Birth is More Than a Medical Event—It’s a Human Experience
Yes, birth mostly happens in hospitals. There are IVs, monitors, and sometimes unexpected medical interventions. But there is also power, vulnerability, decision-making, and emotion wrapped into every contraction. Birth is physical, emotional, psychological, and deeply personal. Having an educated birth support person—a doula, a trained partner, a childbirth-educated friend—can make all the difference.
Here’s why:
1. Physical Support: More Than Just Back Rubs
A trained birth support person knows the anatomy of labor—not just the body, but the rhythm of it. They know when to offer counter pressure, when to suggest a position change, and how to read your cues even when you can’t speak. They can provide:
- Comfort measures (massage, heat packs, acupressure, and more)
- Positioning for optimal fetal alignment
- Hands-on techniques for pain relief and labor progression
- Support through pushing, breathing, and conserving energy
Physical support is not just about easing pain—it’s about enhancing the natural flow of labor and reducing unnecessary interventions.
2. Emotional Support: The Calm in the Storm
Labor is intense. Even the most prepared birthing woman can feel overwhelmed at times. An educated support person remains steady, calm, and grounded, offering reassurance through:
- Continuous presence (something hospital staff often can’t provide)
- Validation of feelings and experiences
- Gentle encouragement and affirmations
- Helping your partner feel confident and involved
They don’t just support you—they support your whole birth team.
3. Psychological Support: Protecting Your Mental Space
Trauma in birth doesn’t always come from what happened—it often stems from how it happened. Did you feel heard? Did you feel safe? Were your choices respected?
An educated support person helps protect your psychological space by:
- Helping you understand what’s happening at every stage
- Offering coping strategies for fear, anxiety, and decision-making
- Recognizing signs of emotional overwhelm and grounding you back
- Creating a sense of safety and familiarity in an unfamiliar setting
They’re not just there to cheer you on—they’re there to help you stay connected to yourself.
4. Advocacy: Your Voice When You Need It Most
Here’s where my background as an L&D nurse really comes in. I know how busy hospitals get. I’ve seen how quickly things move, how policies can overshadow preferences, and how hard it can be to advocate for yourself when you’re in the throes of labor.
A knowledgeable support person can:
- Help you understand your options and your rights
- Facilitate communication with medical staff
- Encourage informed consent and refusal
- Remind you of your birth plan and preferences
- Ask the question, “Can we have a moment to think about that?”
They’re not there to speak over providers—they’re there to help you speak with them.
Birth Should Be Empowering, Not Disempowering
Unfortunately, not everyone who enters the birth room leaves feeling empowered. But when you’re surrounded by a team that truly supports you—body, mind, and spirit—the experience can be transformative.
As a nurse, I was trained to respond to emergencies. As a doula, I’m trained to help prevent them. But in either role, I’ve seen this: when a birthing person is supported, respected, and informed, they are powerful beyond measure.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re birthing in a hospital, birth center, or at home, the presence of an educated birth support person is not a luxury—it’s a birthright. Choose someone who understands not just the mechanics of labor, but the emotions, the psychology, and the systems surrounding it.
Because birth isn’t just about getting the baby out. It’s about how you come out of the experience, too.
Looking for support or want to learn more about how a doula can support your birth? Reach out—I’d love to walk this path with you.
Contact Information
Jackie Martinez, A Former L&D Nurse, Now a Birth and Postpartum Doula
lilacsinbloombirthcare@gmail.com
626-643-8165
