Doulas are for birth partners and fathers too.

When we talk about pregnancy and birth, so much of the focus is on the birthing person, and rightfully so. But birth partners play a huge role in shaping how supported, calm, and connected that experience feels. Whether the birth partner is a spouse, co-parent, close friend, or family member, they are an integral part of the birth story.

Still, many partners feel unsure of how to help, what to say, or how to best show up when things get intense. Supporting a birthing person through labor and postpartum isn’t always instinctive — it’s a skill that can be learned and nurtured. And when partners feel confident and equipped, the entire family benefits!

During Pregnancy: Building Confidence and Connection

Pregnancy can be an emotional rollercoaster, not just for the person growing the baby but for the partner, too. It’s a time of anticipation, excitement, and sometimes anxiety. Birth partners can provide incredible support by learning to listen deeply, ask open-ended questions, and help create an environment of calm reassurance.

Encourage your partner to attend prenatal appointments, childbirth education classes, and to be involved in creating your birth preferences together. Understanding what’s happening each trimester helps the partner feel less like a bystander and more like an active participant in this shared journey.

This is also the perfect time to bring a doula into your team. Doulas don’t replace partners — they empower them. A doula helps both of you understand what to expect, offers techniques for physical comfort and emotional support, and ensures everyone feels confident and connected before labor even begins. Try interviewing and choosing your doula together to ensure you both click with the doula.

During Birth: Teamwork in Action

Labor is a dance and your doula helps everyone move in rhythm. Birth partners often want to help but don’t always know how. A doula quietly coaches them with small, effective ways to comfort the birthing person. For example, how to apply counter pressure, when to offer sips of water, how to advocate with confidence, and when to just hold space and when to distract with humor.

For partners, having a doula means they can relax into their role — focusing on connection and love rather than logistics or uncertainty. Doulas are there to translate medical language, suggest position changes, and anticipate needs so that both partners can stay emotionally grounded and present for one another.

When partners feel prepared and supported, the birth experience transforms. It becomes something that strengthens relationships rather than stresses them.

Beyond Birth: Navigating the New Normal

The postpartum period can bring joy, exhaustion, and a complete reshaping of daily life. Birth partners may struggle to find their new role as the household adjusts to feeding schedules, sleepless nights, and emotional recovery.

This is where postpartum doula support can make all the difference. A doula helps the entire household adjust — tending not just to the birthing person but also the partner and baby. From helping with meals and light chores to facilitating open communication between new parents, doulas nurture the whole family as they transition into this new chapter of life.

Partners often feel more confident, connected, and less overwhelmed when a doula is there to help create stability, structure, and calm during those early weeks.

Equip Your Partner with Knowledge and Confidence

If you’re ready to prepare your partner to be your rock through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, check out my Birth Partner Course — a comprehensive, easy-to-follow program designed to educate and empower your support person for every stage of this journey.

For just $99, your partner will learn:

• How to support during each stage of labor

• Techniques for comfort, advocacy, and emotional support

• Tips for bonding and communication postpartum

• How to navigate stress, fatigue, and relationship changes with grace

This course is ideal for partners who want to show up feeling confident, calm, and deeply connected.

Enroll in the Birth Partner Course here

Whether you’re expecting your first baby or adding another to your family, remember that this is a shared transformation. When both partners feel seen, supported, and prepared, the postpartum period becomes less about survival — and more about thriving together.

-The In Joy Birth Team Supporting families across Central Florida and Denver, Colorado

Everyone deserves a doula to help ease the transition into parenthood.