Labor & Birth

On the blog

What Is Delayed Cord Clamping, and Should It Be in Your Birth Plan?

Tassia O'Callaghan

What is Perineal Massage for Labor (and Does It Actually Work)?

Tassia O'Callaghan

Cervix Dilation Chart: How to Track Your Progress During Labor

Tassia O'Callaghan

Inducing Labour With Dilapan-S

Phoebe Corcoran

Analgesia (Pain Relief) in Labor: What Are Your Options?

Dr. Fatema Mustansir Dawoodbhoy

Back Pain After Epidural: Is It Normal?

Katie Mill

What Is a Foley Bulb Induction?

Katie Mill

En Caul Birth Explained: Causes, Risks & What It Means

Katie Mill

Why Do Babies Cry When They’re Born?

Katie Mill

What are the 4 Stages of Labor?

Kesgia Sophia Roelofs

What is Dystocia? Obstructed Labor Signs, Symptoms & What to Do

Catherine Craik

Evening Primrose Oil for Labor: What’s the Story?

Alicia Wallace

Placenta Encapsulation: The Risk of Placenta Pills

Keshia Sophia Roelofs

Cervical Effacement: What 70% and 80% Effaced Really Mean

Tassia O'Callaghan

Baby Born at 33 Weeks: Your 33-Week Preemie

Keshia Sophia Roelofs

Baby Born at 31 Weeks: Your 31-Week Preemie

Tassia Agatowski

From the community

Recent discussions

Uk mums!

Daughter is having general anesthetic for a 10 min procedure. Do I need to pack some pajamas, night nappy and my own snacks for it? I forgot to ask the nurse? Also do they allow hair to be up for the procedure, my girl has crazy hair 😂

Basically any recommendations!

C section pain

Tips for pain management? I’m 6 days post section and having paracetamol and ibuprofen every 4 hours but I’m still sore and only really managing to walk to the toilet and back. They took the stitches out yesterday and it was checked and they’ve said it looks fine.

We were inpatients for quite 4 days as it was an emergency section and baby was in NICU being monitored and having IV antibiotics so have only been home 2 days.
Sorry to add I can’t have codeine/dihydrocodeine due to an allergy!

2nd c section

Second elective c section, what’s everyone’s recovery like second time around?

Did you loose weight like you did your first? Was recovery okay?

Do they go through the same scar?

C-Section

Hi all

On the 20th I have a csection booked due to some complications which is going to be done under GA. What is everyone’s experience with csection under GA and do they use a breathing tube? How long does it take to come around from GA

Anterior placenta, previous c section

I’m 15 weeks and have an anterior placenta. I’ve been told that monitoring of my placenta won’t really start until my 20 week scan. So I don’t know yet if it is close to my scar. But am already quite worried. My previous c section was also emergency, not sure if that also increases my chances of risks. Does anyone have any experience of having an anterior placenta and previous c section, and it being okay? TIA x

VBAC in birth centre

Hi, has anyone had a vbac (vaginal birth after c-section) in a birth centre? Whether that be standalone or attached to a hospital. Im trying to be prepared to fight to be "allowed" to use the birth centre for my next birth which would be my second vbac

Steroid Injections

Has anyone here had the steroid injections before a planned C-section at 37 weeks to help the baby's lungs?

I'm considered high risk, so waiting until 39 weeks isn't an option for me. I've been offered the injections and I'm trying to decide what to do.

I understand they're commonly given to reduce the chance of breathing problems after birth, but I've also come across some discussions about possible links with autism or special educational needs, and I'm finding it difficult to weigh everything up. My consultant wasn't able to offer much detailed information on the longer-term research, so I'd really value hearing from other mums who have been in a similar situation.

Did you choose to have the injections or decline them? If your baby was born at 37 weeks by planned C-section, how was their breathing and overall health after birth?

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

induction on monday

anyone have experience with induction? i’m nervous ik it can take a long time. i’m currently 3cm dilated but i’m not having any contractions at all. i hear it hurts more than normal labor but im planning on getting the epidural anyway. just need some advice on what to expect 🤍

Is it normal to be so different to my other pregnancies?

So I’m a mom of four soon to be five, all my babies have measured on top percentile. This baby is only at just under 50th which I know is average, however I can’t help thinking does this mean something could be wrong? Is it just one of these things that happens? Has anyone else had different percentile babies? Why would this baby be so much smaller than all the others, my mind is in overdrive now. 😢

Aitah—-Preemie baby

My babies are possibly being discharged this weekend! The Nicu called me today saying to bring my baby A car seat in and she’ll be able to take her test, but one thing I hate is that they are still waiting for baby B to gain weight, and if it was really far off I’d understand going home with one and not the other. But she’s currently 3 pounds 11 ounces from last night before she ate at her care time that we were at around 10pm. So she isn’t too far off so I don’t want to go home with one just to go with the other the very next day or 2 later when they could just go home together! I don’t want them split anymore than they’ve been. We currently don’t have car seats (and we’re capable of buying them whenever/wherever) but we put it off until we know both will leave and test same day. So we’ve told them we don’t have it et and waiting for family who said they were on the way so we can have both leave. Later today I’m gonna call again and ask if my other baby can also test so we can leave same day since she’s not too far from 4 pounds. But I’m also scared they’ll think we aren’t capable of caring for the babies. Even though we have everything else at home cribs, bassinets, bottles and formula and ect. Is this wrong for me wanting them home on the same day. I’ve had a dream of just waking them both into our new apartment and showing them both their room at the same time and being able to settle with both rather than doing it with one baby while my other is still listening to beeping machines in the nicu still.

Colchester hospital birth experiences ??

Hi all, I originally planned to deliver at Broomfield hospital (Chelmsford) however I have decided to swap to Colchester hospital. I was just wondering if anyone has any positive or negatives experiences there ? I have never been to this hospital before (apart from when I was born 22 years ago)

Fact-checked by experts

We work with acclaimed women’s health experts and leading voices in fertility, motherhood, and pregnancy to ensure our content is medically reviewed, expert-approved, and written with care.

Learn more