# Who is in the room

**Who should be in the room for the birth?**

Who will be with you during labor and birth: just the two of you, a doula, a family member, or more people.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Partner only; Partner plus doula; Plus one family member; Wider family. Evidence: evidence leans one way. Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. Best settled: during pregnancy.

- Area: Pregnancy, birth and arrival
- Evidence: Evidence leans one way
- Best settled: During pregnancy
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/pregnancy-birth-and-arrival--who-is-in-the-room

## Who is in the room: what are the options?

1. **Partner only**: Only the two of you, with the medical team.
2. **Partner plus doula**: The two of you and a doula.
3. **Plus one family member**: The two of you and one relative or friend.
4. **Wider family**: Several family members are present.

## Who is in the room: what does the evidence say?

**Evidence leans one way.** Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational.

The Cochrane review of continuous support in labor (27 trials, about 15,900 women) found that women with continuous support were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth (RR 1.08) and less likely to have a cesarean (RR 0.75) and had shorter labors; the cesarean benefit was seen only when the support came from someone in a doula role, and in settings where epidurals were not routine. ACOG likewise notes that continuous one-to-one support such as a doula is associated with improved outcomes. How many family members attend is a preference; I found no outcome research on it

Sources:

- [Bohren et al., 2017](https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6/full)
- [ACOG](https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/02/approaches-to-limit-intervention-during-labor-and-birth)

## What else is worth knowing?

Hospitals often limit how many people can be present. Having someone with you continuously in labor helps, and that person does not have to be a relative. Decide beforehand who makes you feel calm, and who will ask others to leave if you want privacy.

## Questions to ask each other

- Who would help you feel supported and who might feel like an audience?
- What would you want me to do if you want people to leave?
- How do we tell family what we have decided without hurting feelings?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=pregnancy-birth-and-arrival&topic=pregnancy-birth-and-arrival--who-is-in-the-room