Labour and birth

pregnant woman in early labour holding a glass of water and rubbing her back

Top resources

Packing your hospital bag

In community

Your birth plan

Get tips on setting out your wishes for labour and birth, such as what to include and how your caregiver can help.

Write a birth plan!

Other tools

Due date calculator Writing a birth plan My Pregnancy & Baby Today app All pregnancy tools

More Labour and birth

12 of the most beautiful home birth photos

Planning your baby's birth

pregnant woman sitting on her couch and packing her hospital bag

What to pack in your hospital bag: your complete checklist

Get yourself ready and pack your hospital bag with all the essentials you'll need during labour and for after your baby is born. Our useful checklist will ensure you don't forget anything.

See all in Planning your baby's birth

Labour videos

What is Calmbirth? (video)

A guide to ultrasound (video)

Caesarean section births (video)

My 6-word birth story (video)

See all in Labour videos

Where to give birth

smiling womanand newborn baby in hospital bed

Giving birth in hospital

Most women choose to have their baby in hospital. Find out what to expect from the staff, equipment, facilities and care available to you.

All about birth centres

Homebirth

See all in Where to give birth

Labour

Mum and newborn baby lying together on a hospital bed

The stages of childbirth

Labour is divided into first, second and third stages. We explain what happens in detail.

Signs of labour

How can I avoid an episiotomy?

Apgar scale

When should my baby's head engage?

See all in Labour

Pain relief in labour

Woman in labour being massaged by her partner

Natural pain relief in labour

A guide to natural methods of coping with pain during labour.

Entonox (gas and air)

Epidural

Ambulatory or walking epidural

Using a TENS machine in labour

See all in Pain relief in labour

Water birth

Mother and newborn baby in birthing pool just after birth

How to use a birth pool

Find out how to use a birth pool, whether you just want to use it to help you with you labour, or whether you want to actually have your baby in the water.

Planning a water birth

What's a water birth like?

Water births: your photos

See all in Water birth

Caesarean section

Mother and father with newborn delivered via caesarean

Caesarean sections: an overview

Why might I need a caesarean section? What happens during a caesarean? We answer your questions.

Recovery after a caesarean birth

I'm scared of labour pain. Can I choose a caesarean section?

How many caesareans can I safely have?

Parents' tips: how to cope if you feel disappointed after a caesarean

See all in Caesarean section

Birth partners

Parents' tips: what I wish I'd known about being a birth partner

How can you be a great birth partner? Find out by reading tips from experienced birth partners

10 tips for birth partners

How can I find a doula to attend my birth?

The role of a birth partner

Birth partner's guide to pain relief

See all in Birth partners

Natural ways to start labour

Pregnant woman cuddling with her partner

Can sex bring on labour?

Sex may be effective in bringing on labour. Find out why.

What is a membrane sweep?

I'm overdue: now what?

Natural ways to induce labour: an overview

Can raspberry leaf bring on labour?

See all in Natural ways to start labour

Labour complications

heavily pregnant woman lying in a hospital bed being put on a drip and attached to a monitor

Induced labour

Induction means starting labour artificially. You'll normally be offered an induction because you’ve gone a week or two past your due date, or you've had some complications. Find out more.

Breech birth

Episiotomy

Are there any safe methods to turn a breech baby?

Assisted birth (forceps and ventouse)

See all in Labour complications