You will probably start thinking in earnest about your pending labour and birth at around 30 weeks.
This is also the time that you and your doctor or midwife will start the discussions about what to expect, how to prepare and how to recognise the signs of labour. You cannot control your labour and birth but you can prepare both physically and emotionally.
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Preparing for labour
You can’t really plan your birth but there are things that you can do and think about that will help you to be more prepared.
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Stages of labour
Understanding the stages of birth can help you know what is happening during your labour.
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Managing pain in labour
The experience of labour and how you experience the pain of labour will be very individual. There are a number of natural and medical methods you can use to manage your labour pain.
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Checking your baby during labour
The doctor or midwife will keep a constant check on your baby during labour.
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Assisted birth
Sometimes labour doesn't go as planned and your baby will need help to be born. Help can involve relatively simple procedures, like breaking the membranes (waters), to more medically demanding procedures such as caesarean section.
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Induction of labour
An induction might involve having your waters broken or taking medicines to encourage the birth process to start. Approximately one-third of women have an induction of labour.
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Caesarean birth
A caesarean section is a major surgical operation in which your baby is born through a cut in your abdomen and uterus. It is usually performed under a spinal or epidural anaesthesia.
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Disclaimer
The Women’s does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or use of such information or advice) which is provided on the Website or incorporated into it by reference. The Women’s provide this information on the understanding that all persons accessing it take responsibility for assessing its relevance and accuracy. Women are encouraged to discuss their health needs with a health practitioner. If you have concerns about your health, you should seek advice from your health care provider or if you require urgent care you should go to the nearest Emergency Dept.