Reframing labour companionship: gender representations in maternity wards of Argentina

Labour companionship positively shapes childbirth experiences, offering continuous emotional and practical support to birthing people. In Argentina, companionship is protected by law, though implementation challenges remain. Gender norms and expectations can act as barriers to quality care. Addressing a gap in companionship literature, this paper explores gender representations perceived by male and female companions and health care providers at two public hospitals in Buenos Aires. This qualitative study involved 27 semi-structured interviews with birthing companions and healthcare workers in maternity wards, including nine male partners, three female companions, and 15 health care providers. Transcript data were analysed following a reflexive thematic approach. Two themes were developed: Male companions idealise traditional masculinity values yet embrace femininity at birth, and female companions are stereotyped as “natural” companions. These themes underpinned a third theme, conceptualised as a paradox, regarding proper engagement, support, and preparation of companions during birth. Companions and health care providers engaged with each other while holding biologist constructs of men and women’s ability to support a birthing woman as a companion. The findings contribute to a broader discourse on gendered labour experiences, aiming to inform policy and practice of integration of male and female companions, namely, to foster a more equitable birth environment. • Labour companionship practices are shaped by gendered representations and expectations at the labour ward • Female companions are perceived as “natural” caregivers based on a biologist view that equates womanhood with reproduction • Male companions hold traditional masculinity values but embrace emotionality during labour and birth • Assumptions regarding gender roles influence how healthcare providers engage with female and male companions during labour and birth