Having your baby – labour and birth

These pages provide you with information on labour and birth, as well as some of the options you have available to you.

Early signs of labour and the latent phase

Working out whether you are in the early stages of labour or not can be very confusing.

Early signs of labour and the latent phase

When should I call maternity triage?

Maternity triage provides assessment, monitoring and care for a range of pregnancy-related concerns.

When should I call maternity triage?

Options of where to birth

Where you give birth is up to you, it is a very personal choice and there are lots of options to consider.

Options of where to birth

Elective caesarean

If you are having a planned caesarean section you will have had this explained to you during your antenatal appointments.

Elective caesarean

Emergency caesarean

Around 15% of births need be by an emergency caesarean. These can take place when there is an urgent threat to your or your baby’s life, or when there are problems affecting your or your baby’s health but they are not immediately life threatening

Emergency caesarean

Assisted vaginal birth

An assisted vaginal birth (also known as an instrumental delivery) is when a forceps or ventouse suction cup are used to help deliver your baby.

Assisted vaginal birth

Pain relief options for labour and birth

Nobody knows exactly how labour will feel until it starts so it’s useful to read up about your choices early on.

Pain relief options for labour and birth

Monitoring your baby in labour and birth

As well as checking on you throughout labour, your midwife will check how your baby is doing

Monitoring your baby in labour and birth