Johns Hopkins: Birth Companions at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Birth Companions support women before birth, during labor and birth, and after birth with their continuous presence and complementary interventions. They provide emotional, informational, and physical support to women and serve as an advocate during the entire childbirth process.

Before labor, birth companions will: meet with the woman (and her partner, friend or family member) to become acquainted, discuss priorities, explore any fears and concerns, and plan how they can work best as a team; and help develop a personal birth plan, including preferences regarding pain management, coping with pain and fatigue, and interactions between the woman, partner and family members.

During labor, they will: assist pregnant women in having a satisfying birth experience; advocate for the mother and support her decisions throughout the childbirth process; provide emotional support, physical comfort, and information women often need during labor; help with comfort techniques such as relaxation, massage and positioning; and work only at the woman’s request.

See other resources by Johns Hopkins:

Johns Hopkins: Johns Hopkins Community Physicians East Baltimore Medical Center Pediatrics & Med/Peds
Johns Hopkins: The Johns Hopkins Eating Disorders Program
Johns Hopkins: Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH)
Johns Hopkins: STEM Program and Competition Listing by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Johns Hopkins: Community Psychiatry Program at The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins: Johns Hopkins Asthma & Allergy Center
Johns Hopkins: The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
Johns Hopkins: Center for Educational Outreach (CEO) at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins: Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Summer Programs
Johns Hopkins: Children’s Mental Health Center (CMHC) at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins: Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Health at Johns Hopkins Harriet Lane