Articles & Expert Guides on Labor & Birth

Medically-reviewed expert guides, tips, real-life stories, and articles on Labor & Birth

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

Baby Born at 32 Weeks: Your 32-Week Preemie

Tassia Agatowski

Baby Born at 34 Weeks: Your 34-Week Preemie

Tassia Agatowski

Everything You Need to Know About Your C-Section Scar

Keshia Sophia Roelofs

What is a Husband Stitch? And Is It Even Legal?

Keshia Sophia Roelofs

From the community

Did your second child come sooner?

Just preparing myself incase! I had my little girl at 37+3 weeks and I’m due my boy in September but from people’s experiences should I be expecting him sooner? I know it’s not possible to know for definite but I’m really not prepared this time around😂 so which birth for you came sooner? Your first or second?

FTM

39+2 and I feel like nothing is progressing 😭 worried im going to have to get induced.

How long did you push with your second ?

I pushed for almost an hour with my first and was wondering if it takes less time for the next baby? Also if you had 2 inductions was the second one faster?

Bath

When did you first bath after a c-section? Did you encounter any issues?
Thank you

Chair for partner

I'm getting induced on Saturday and we live 30 minutes drive from the hospital and neither me or my partner drive. I do not expect my partner to sleep on that tiny shitty plastic chair they'll have for him while I'm on the ward being induced.
Do you think the hospital would let me bring a chair like this in for him?
I am terrified of staying there the night on my own :/
Or is this just really pathetic of me 😅🤦🏻‍♀️

Curious

Have any of you had a c section and your tubes tied at the same time? Me and husband are thinking about possibly another child but it will be the last pregnancy id be willing to have. Im just curious if anyone has been in the same situation and had a sterilisation done at the same time.

Is anyone a second time mum thinking about birth plan?

Hey ladies, I’m a second time mum and my first resulted in an emergency c section, due to labour not progressing. I’d really love to have a vbac this time, but worried about going through the whole labour progress, just to result in a c section again. Is anyone else in the same boat? What birth plan are you thinking this time? I know there’s still time to do research, but it’s already a concern!

Question

For those of you who knew you were already dilated a little bit before you actually went into labor do you feel like you progressed faster? With my first I was in labor for over 24 hours and start labor not dilated or anything. I'm currently pregnant with my second and found out yesterday at 34 + 5 weeks I'm already almost 3cm now ik that doesn't really mean labor is coming soon but I am wondering if that means I have a good shot at not being in labor forever like I was with my first.

Advice

I’m 20 weeks and my boobs have started leaking and when I say leaking I don’t just mean a little bit I mean enough to wet through a T-shirt and bra, it’s a clearish goldish colour and I’m wondering if I should be talking to my midwife about this? It’s extremely sticky and I’m thinking maybe it’s colostrum but don’t want to start collecting it as I heard it can induce labour. Any advice !

Mucus plug

Has anyone been to triage because they thought they'd lost their mucus plug?
I've just had quite thick jelly discharge in my underwear and I'm pretty sure it's my plug. I know it can regrow and isn't necessarily an issue but just wanted to see if anyone had been to triage and did they take it seriously?
The triage at my hospital hasn't been very friendly and I don't want to go for no reason