It is now common for husbands to be present at the birth of their children. There is a general impression that this presence is of help to the woman giving birth. However, the results of research into the relationship between his presence and the parturant's experience of labour pain have been inconclusive. The results of this study carried out on 98 British subjects giving birth in hospital, show that the presence of the husband, or chosen birth companion, was not significantly associated with any difference in the perceived intensity of the subjects' labour pain. 78 subjects were accompanied in labour, 60 of whom reported that they found their husband's presence at the birth helpful. These subjects had significantly lower levels of pain when compared with all other subjects, ie subjects whose husbands were present at the birth, but who were not reported as being of help, and subjects whose husbands were absent.