Holding the Birth Field: A Companion for Birth Partners
Holding the Birth Field
A Companion for Birth Partners
Most birth partners want to help —
but don’t always know how to be useful without interfering,
how to stay grounded when things intensify,
or how to support birth without trying to manage it.
This guide is for that moment.
Holding the Birth Field is a practical, grounded companion for partners who want to show up with presence, steadiness, and confidence throughout labor and birth.
Rather than coaching, fixing, or directing, this guide teaches how to:
- support the physiology of birth
- regulate the nervous system in the room
- protect the emotional and energetic space
- respond skillfully as labor unfolds
- stay connected to the birthing person without overriding their process
What This Guide Covers
Organized by the stages of labor, this companion includes:
- How to support early labor with calm, containment, and pacing
- What actually helps during active labor (and what quietly disrupts it)
- How to stay grounded and attuned during pushing and birth
- Ways to protect connection during the golden hour
- How to advocate without escalating tension
- Simple frameworks for navigating choices and interventions
- Practical reminders for partner self-care (because your nervous system matters too)
Throughout, the emphasis is on presence over performance.
Who This Is For
- Birth partners who want to feel useful, steady, and confident
- Partners who don’t want a script — they want orientation
- Those supporting home, birth center, or hospital births
- Anyone who wants to understand what actually supports birth physiology
No prior experience required.
What This Is (and Is Not)
This is not:
- a checklist to memorize
- a coaching manual
- a replacement for medical advice
- a rigid birth plan
It is:
- a companion to return to
- a grounding resource for the intensity of birth
- a way to understand your role without pressure or performance
Format
- Digital PDF (23 pages)
- Designed to be read slowly or referenced in the moment
- Suitable for phone, tablet, or printing
About the Author
Kate Coletti is a midwife, birth educator, and women’s health practitioner with over two decades of experience supporting birth. She is the founder of Enlightened Birth, a holistic childbirth preparation course and forthcoming book, and has guided hundreds of families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
A Note on Use
This guide is intended as general education and support. It does not replace individualized medical care. Always consult your midwife, doctor, or care provider with health-related questions.