Birth

The onset of labour:

• Definite signs of action
• Helping yourself in early labour

What's happening? The normal pattern of labour:

• The first stage of labour
• The second stage of labour
• The third stage of labour

Working as a team during labour:

• First stage of labour
• Checking on your baby
• Transition (the end of the first stage)
• Second stage of labour
• The birth
• Third stage of labour
• After the birth

Complications and interventions:

• When home birth is no longer advisable
• Induction of labour
• Augmenting labour
• The 'posterior' baby
• Breech birth
• Forceps delivery
• Vacuum (ventouse) delivery
• Delayed delivery of the placenta
• Post-partum haemorrhage (PPH)
• Caesarean section
• Actively assisting a baby to breathe (neonatal resuscitation)
• When a baby is born with a severe abnormality

Rhiannon's story: A first birth in hospital

Moana's story: A first birth in hospital

Gabrielle's story: Four home births