Editing Childbirth (section)

===Aid===
Obstetric care frequently subjects women to institutional routines, which may have adverse effects on the progress of labour. Supportive care during labour may involve emotional support, comfort measures, and information and advocacy which may promote the physical process of labour as well as women's feelings of control and competence, thus reducing the need for obstetric intervention. The continuous support may be provided either by hospital staff such as nurses or midwives, [[doula]]s, or by companions of the woman's choice from her social network.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Continuous labour support may help women to give birth spontaneously, that is, without caesarean or [[Vacuum extraction|vacuum]] or [[Obstetrical forceps|forceps]], with slightly shorter labours, and to have more positive feelings regarding their experience of giving birth. Continuous labour support may also reduce women's use of pain medication during labour and reduce the risk of babies having low five-minute [[Apgar score|Apgar scores]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bohren |first1=MA |last2=Hofmeyr |first2=GJ |last3=Sakala |first3=C |last4=Fukuzawa |first4=RK |last5=Cuthbert |first5=A |date=6 July 2017 |title=Continuous support for women during childbirth. |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=7 |issue=8 |pages=CD003766 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6 |pmc=6483123 |pmid=28681500}}</ref>

The participation of the child's father in the birth contributes to a better birth experience for the mother, promotes [[Paternal bond|paternal bonding]] and makes the transition to fatherhood easier.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kothari |first1=Alka |last2=Khuu |first2=Alvin |last3=Dulhunty |first3=Joel |last4=Bruxner |first4=George |last5=Ballard |first5=Emma |last6=Callaway |first6=Leonie |date=5 May 2023 |title=Fathers attending the birth of their baby: Views, intentions and needs |journal=Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology |language=en |volume=63 |issue=5 |pages=689–695 |doi=10.1111/ajo.13692 |pmid=37145387 |issn=0004-8666|doi-access=free }}</ref>