ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on some practical ways to support women during labour and birth, bearing in mind the principles. It discusses these chronologically according to the progressive continuum of rhythms that characterise individual women's labours. The art of labour support includes having a 'tool kit' of ideas and resources that one can offer to women as things that might help. These are often referred to as comfort measures. A technique that can be used in the absence of equipment to promote active birth and comfort is the 'Rebozo'. The World Health Organization's 'First Embrace' initiative identifies the importance of the period immediately after the baby is born and the significant benefits for mothers and babies of immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping and early breastfeeding: The First Embrace refers to immediate skin-to-skin contact shortly after the baby is born.
