Lead Midwife for Argyll and Bute, NHS Highland, Joanne Thorpe says:Yes, it's safe to give birth at home as long as you've had a normal, healthy pregnancy. However, if you're considered 'high risk', for example, if your baby is lying sideways instead

it on your birth plan. Mobile epidurals allow you to remain as upright as possible, so are quite popular as a method of pain relief. Of course, as an epidural has to be administered by an anaesthetist, it's dependent on an anaesthetist being available. Most

of muscles working hard, squeezed and stretched. The more tense you are, the harder it can feel, so the point of the relaxation and breathing you learn is to help you work with your body.Discuss your fears with your partner, friends and health experts

the womb causing contractions. The concern with using castor oil to induce labour is that it may increase the likelihood of childbirth-related complications such as the mother becoming dehydrated through diarrhoea, and the baby becoming distressed through

Obstetrician Leonie says:An ideal position for a baby at this stage is head down, with his spine upwards, towards your tummy. However, your baby is lying head down, with his spine towards your back. But don't worry, this is quite common, and most

Midwife Nikki replies: There are several theories on this. One concern was whether it puts your baby at risk of infection, but the latest thinking is that it doesn't. Some experts even suggest that bathing can reduce the risk, as water births show