Mums-to-be worried about giving birth naturally are to be offered psychiatric counselling under new draft guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).The NHS hopes to curb the number of mums-to-be opting

hospital. The Government recently announced plans to give women more choice on where they have their babies - including more access to home births.Check out our interactive Good Birth Guide before you decide. All you need to do is type in your postcode

How can hypnotherapy help you cope with labour?'Hypnotherapy can help with the birth experience on a number of different levels. It can teach and help the expectant mother how to distress and relax. It can boost her confidence levels and dispel any

.But birth is of course one of those times in life when events can overtake even the best laid plans. Which is why it's important to think about your ‘ideal birth' before you go into labour, as well as the choices you may have to make about your baby's birth

with birth plansWhat is the hospital policy on inductions: when might they decide to induce?Number of babies born, intervention and Caesarean ratesWho will deliver your baby?Availability of birthing poolsShower/washing facilitiesTypes of pain relief available

to relieve pain, especially in the lower back area. Some aromatherapy oils can help, too - one study found that women who used them during labour had shorter labours and used fewer drugs for pain relief. This is one area of labour where your birth partner can

the review included clinical care, access to antenatal care, availability of scans and screening tests,  choices in labour (eg pain relief), delivery room facilities, C-section statistics and post-natal care for mum and baby.So what happens if your local