about you going into labour naturally.You'll be given an epidural, the top of your pubic hair shaved, a drip put into your arm to give you saline fluid and a catheter inserted to empty your bladder. A screen will be placed in front of you so you won
Ideally your birth partner will be:CALM:Birth is a demanding experience, so you need someone who can handle the highs and lows, and not take it personally if you snap at them.Would your husband or mum get upset seeing you in pain during labour
Every labour is different - from the way it starts to how quickly it progresses.Getting to know the distinct phases will help you feel prepared for when labour comes on, recognise the signs that your baby is on its way, what happens at each stage
You wouldn't think of running a marathon without training first, and the same goes for preparing your body for the physical challenge of giving birth.'If you're fit and well, you'll have more strength and stamina for labour,' says antenatal teacher
Staying upright and active can help you have a faster, easier birth – here’s our guide to some good positions for labour.Most experts agree that the traditional position for labour of lying down on your back (which we always see in films and on TV
Are water births easier?They can be. 'Water helps you stay relaxed,' says midwife Louise Adams. 'It triggers your natural painkillers and helps you get into the best position for your baby to descend into the birth canal.A Swiss study in 2000 found
scaring yourself silly imagining all sorts of scenarios. So, here, to calm your fears, are the facts from the experts What exactly is a tear? It is damage to the skin, tissue and, occasionally, muscles of your vagina and perineum (the area between your
child after a C-section. You can give birth naturally after a C-section, but many women find they are offered a planned Caesaerean second time around. There is a one in 200 risk that your scar will rupture during labour, requiring an emergency Caesearean
Our webchat is the chance to get answers to your intimate questions about post-birth healing.Expert Rachel Foux (pictured) has over 13 years experience in womens health and holistic healing as a qualified maternity and fertility therapist
Your due date is fast approaching, you're feeling excited and nervous, but how will you know for sure when labour is actually starting? Early labour is when the uterus starts to contract, and the cervix - which is the neck of the womb - softens
