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

Natural birth or C-section?

Hi, I am due my first baby in October and my partner and family are advising me to have a C-section. As they say it’s less painful etc. But I would prefer a natural birth and wouldn’t want to go through recovery after the C-section. I had an ovarian cyst removed at 14 weeks, along with my ovary and fallopian tube. It took me weeks to recover from this and worry the recovery for C-section would be the same. Does anyone have any advice please? Would you have a C-section or opt for natural birth?

Bloody show

How long after loosing yours did labour start?

Shopping list

I am not scared about giving birth but I am scared about the shopping part. Buying the right products, there are so many options of each item, so many opinions, making sure I have everything and enough of each, where to store them. These give me anxiety 😂 Anyone have already a hospital shopping list ? I have the baby list hopefully complete but I am clueless about the hospital one ( for me and baby ) also I would appreciate any recommendations of must have products. Thank you!

Pregnant after a c-section

How long did you wait to get pregnant again after a c-section?

Snacks for hospital

You would think with this being my 3rd i would know what to pack by now 🙈 however, what snacks did people pack in their hospital bag? My 1st baby was covid and we were in for a week after he was born so i dont remember much of what snacks i packed. My 2nd ended up as a home birth as she was too eager to wait for hospital and arrived in 30mins 😂 so i didnt touch my bag for anything except clothes when we got to hospital lol.
Im trying to figure out whats best considering the heat atm i dont want anything that will spoil lol.
Please help x

C section tomorrow

I am booked in for an elective c section tomorrow afternoon at The JR Oxford- and I am so so nervous- I don’t deal with needles and hospitals in general very well nor ever had any form of surgery etc.

I think I’m looking for some positive stories, reassurance and tips for keeping calm and recovery would be much appreciated :) thank you!x

C Section!

Hey everyone! I’m due my 2nd in October and thinking about requesting to have an elective c-section this time. However, how does this work? Are you able to request a specific day or do they just give you one? I kinda want to wait till the end of my pregnancy if possible and don’t want to be given a date a full week early, maybe just a few days early?

Let me know your pros and cons if you had an elective section please, really undecided what to do 🙃

C Section Recovery.

Hi all,
I'm currently 34.5weeks and a FTM. I think I am likely going to need to have a planned C section due to other heath issues (and still waiting to be seen by a cardiologist who seem to be ghosting me!!)
I was just wondering if someone would please give me a rough idea of recovery week by week after the surgery? We're trying to work out my husband's pat leave and how much help I'm going to need...

Thanks so much in advance!!

40+6 and still pregnant

This is my first baby, I am currently 40+6 and its really starting to get to me and just cant stay positive anymore.

I was really hoping for natural labour but I am starting to loose hope it will actually happen, and have been crying a lot for the past 2 days, as I just feel so defeated. She’s also measuring on 90th percentile and every extra day she’s there I worry that once it comes to it will be too much to handle, and my end up in emergency c-section.

I’ve got induction booked for Sunday (I’ll be 41+3) and part of me is relieved there is finally end date for this pregnancy, and part of me still wishes that the little one decides to surprise me by then, and even asking myself if I should give her even more time?

I guess this just a rant, as just needed to get it out there, and hopefully some can relate?

Silicone scar tape

What is the best silicone scar tape post C-section once the incision is fully closed. I was looking at the frida ones and they look a bit expensive and I was wondering if these are the best and I should just bite the bullet or if you guys would recommend any other really good ones that worked for you?

Planned/ elective/ emergency C section recovery opinions?

Due a planned c section soon due to a severe tear in my last birth with lasting damage to my pelvic muscles.

How was your recovery? Really worried about coping with a toddler.

Scar?

Hi moms, my baby was born 5 months ago and I still have a slightly raised scar where the c- section is. It’s not keloiding and it’s not infected but it’s kind of ugly…. Good thing my fupa hides it.

How long did it take for your scar to start disappearing? Is there anything I can put on it to make it go down ?

Thanksss moms

I’m curious, what’s the WORST part about having a C-Section?

I’ve got 2 kids and never experienced a C-Section, so I’m generally curious and haven’t seen any posts about what the worst part is? I know lots of people will say the aftermath - leaving the hospital (not being able to move, dealing with incision pain, achy body etc) & thereafter but I’m more specifically asking about the hours before, during surgery and the hours after the C-Section and not necessarily the PP part of it. Would love to hear about it 🤍

For the c section mums. How long did the pain last after the c section?

My son is 14 weeks now and i had a emergency c section when I was 33 weeks (he is my first baby) but I'm still in pain. My gp said it could be that I struggle to go to toilet ( i don't) or I'm pregnant again and told me to come back in a month after a period and pregnancy tests. I'm not pregnant and I'm due back next week.

What to expect when I stand up from a c section? How does it feel?

Due a planned c section due to a complicated birth last time.

What will it feel like when I stand up and move around for the first time? I keep having nightmares that it will feel like my insides are falling out.

Do they amount of c- sections influence hysterectomy

First-time mom here! ❤️ I’m feeling pretty anxious about vaginal birth because I have a history of tearing during gynecological exams. I may also have lichen sclerosus, and my vaginal opening is very close to my perineum/anus, which makes me worried about tearing to my rectum during delivery.

Because of this, I’m considering a planned C-section, but one of my biggest concerns is that my partner and I would ideally like to have 3 children.

For moms who have had 2, 3, or more C-sections, how has your reproductive health been in the years afterward? Did you experience significant scar tissue, adhesions, or other complications with subsequent pregnancies or C-sections?

I’m also wondering how the risks change as you have more C-sections, particularly things like placenta previa/accreta, adhesions, or other complications that could potentially require a hysterectomy. Is there a point where having multiple C-sections significantly increases these risks?

I know everyone’s experience is different and I’ll be discussing my individual situation with my OB, but I’d really love to hear from moms who have had 2, or more C-sections. How did your pregnancies and recoveries go? And how did you feel about your decision years later?

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