to an ecstatic birth, although this may seem rather controversial,  it is probably better that he is not at the birth. It has become a kind of orthodoxy now that the man has to be at the birth, and some men really, in their heart of hearts, don't want to be there, but they feel that they have to.  It has to be done.  If the partner is either in so much fear about birth that he cannot support you in an ecstatic birth, it is more supportive for him to stay at home or go to the pub or whatever he might like to do.  You can have a close woman friend or a relative or your breathwork practitioner, someone or ones who can really support you, and be totally committed.  One thing that definitely happens if you work around birth, you do experience feelings from your own birth.   If you have looked at those feelings and looked at your fears throughout the pregnancy and your partner has not, you can feel reflected back from him the negative feelings.  This is not any kind of judgment.  It's not to say that he is any less of a man or a partner than anyone else. It is true that the energy and the consciousness that is in the birthing room very much influences how the birth will proceed.  Whether the partner is there or not is an individual choice for that couple. I think one of the most important aspects