Support During Labour: A Timeless Tradition Backed by Science

Birth is one of the most intense thresholds a woman can cross. It is physical, yes, but it is also deeply emotional, psychological, and cultural. No one enters labour unchanged — and no one should have to walk through it alone.

Across time and place, women have always been accompanied in birth. Mothers, sisters, grandmothers, friends, midwives — someone was there to hold the space, to guide, to steady a hand or whisper words of encouragement. In modern hospitals, that presence has sometimes been lost in the flurry of machines and protocols. Yet science is now reminding us of something cultures have long known: continuous, compassionate support changes birth for the better.

A large review published in 2024, drawing on 35 randomized controlled trials, confirmed what birth traditions have shown for centuries: the presence of continuous support makes a difference in positive birth outcomes.

Women who had a continuous companion during labour were less likely to give birth by caesarean. Their babies had higher Apgar scores, and mothers themselves described greater satisfaction with their experience. These findings are not isolated. For decades, studies — from Cochrane reviews to ethnographic work — have echoed the same message: when a woman feels accompanied, outcomes improve. Not only in the delivery room, but often in the weeks and months that follow.

It is not just about having another person in the room. It is about being seen, heard, and held through each wave of labour. Continuous support softens fear, lowers stress hormones, and makes room for oxytocin — the hormone that drives contractions and brings the baby closer. It also shapes the psychology of birth. Women who feel supported tend to ask more questions, navigate choices with greater confidence, and work more easily with the medical team. Later, many describe calmer postpartum days, smoother breastfeeding, and a sense of being less shaken by the transition into motherhood.

Anthropologist Robbie Davis-Floyd has described birth as a rite of passage, a journey where the transition into motherhood is marked by rituals of care and community. In every society, there are echoes of this truth: a woman does not give birth alone. She is carried by her people, whether through rebozo rituals in Mexico, midwifery traditions in Northern Europe, or the presence of grandmothers in Africa and Asia.

When we bring a doula or continuous companion into the modern birthing room, we are not inventing something new. We are reviving something very old, and very human.

In my own work with families, I have witnessed the quiet power of presence. Women who feel accompanied often stand taller in their decisions. They breathe more deeply, trust more fully, and find a rhythm that is uniquely their own.

And this way of birthing - feeling deeply supported and safe - also shapes the first days with the baby. Breastfeeding begins with more ease, partners feel included in the story, and mothers have a gentle recovery and more energy to care for their new baby.

The beauty of continuous support is that it does not belong to one culture or one profession. It belongs to humanity. And now, with growing scientific evidence, we can see clearly how essential it is — not an “extra,” not a luxury, but a protective factor for mothers and babies alike.

The hospital environment may be modern, but the need is timeless: no woman should have to labour alone.

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An Invitation to Be Supported in Birth

Continuous support in labour is not only a research finding. It is a timeless human need — to be accompanied, seen, and held through one of life’s most transformative moments.

When I support families, I bring presence, care, and tools that help both mother and partner feel steadier, calmer, and more in control. I don’t replace the medical team; I walk alongside you, making sure your voice and needs are not lost in the process.

If you are preparing to give birth in Copenhagen and would like the reassurance of continuous, holistic support, I would be honored to walk with you. Together, we can create a circle of care that supports not only the moment of birth, but also the gentle transition into parenthood.

💌 You can read all about my Traditional Birth Doula service to learn more or book a birth preparation call.