I don’t know if this counts, because I gave birth in a hospital, but in a birthing room decorated to look like home, and with a mid-wife. My husband (at the time) and my best friend were with me for all three births. I can’t stress enough how much it helped me to have two birthing helpers… one on each side of the bed. My friend placed cool, wet washcloths on my forehead, held my hand, held my leg, and whispered in my ear. She laughed with me, and cried with me. Of course, my husband did most of the same things over on his side of the bed… but he wasn’t as calm and soothing as she was.