The husband may have physical contact with his laboring wife until she is rendered niddah – either she experiences uterine bleeding, or if the contractions are so strong she is unable to walk around, or if she is fully dilated.

Once a woman is rendered niddah, the husband may not have physical contact with her unless it is absolutely necessary and there is no one else available to help her (e.g., if she is delivering in the car on the way to the hospital, obviously her husband can touch her). If both the husband and doula are attending to the laboring wife, from the point where the wife becomes niddah the doula should offer the physical support and the husband should offer emotional support.

Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.