In these challenging times, few things manage to move us like this photo of a little boy assisting his mother during labor.
Last year, when Hollie Lou, a woman from Ohio, USA, became a mother for the third time, she needed support and emotional assistance from those around her. While she had an impressive team of doctors, her 9-year-old son, Charlie, was right by her side throughout the labor, providing his help not only to his mother but also to the doctors.
Hollie explains that she never asked her son to be present during the labor; it was entirely his initiative. She believes that boys are rarely given the opportunity to be involved in such moments, but for her, it was important to include her sons in the process of birth and breastfeeding, as they are entirely natural occurrences.When Charlie and his younger brother asked to be with her during the childbirth, she gladly agreed. She wanted them to learn and experience the arrival of a new life into the world, and she didn’t want them to miss this educational opportunity.
To prepare Charlie for this moment, they watched various childbirth materials together, and he even attended a childbirth preparation class, which helped him better understand what his mother’s body goes through during labor. Essentially, Charlie assumed the role of a doula, providing real support not only to his mother but also to his new baby sister.
While a 9-year-old may not have professional training or hands-on experience in childbirth assistance, the mental and emotional support that Charlie offered proved invaluable during the toughest moments of labor. Hollie expressed that having Charlie present gave her strength when she doubted herself
His calming touch between contractions provided comfort and focus, reminding her that she had done this before and could do it again.
Hollie emphasized that both her sons spent considerable time preparing to play their supportive roles during childbirth. They even took a mini-childbirth education class, which she taught, to mentally prepare themselves for witnessing the birth. Having her loved ones cheer her on during the most challenging thing she had ever done was exactly what she needed to get through it, and Charlie’s presence played a significant part in this journey.