Going into labour and the labour process

If you’re having your baby in hospital or a midwife-led unit, phone and describe your symptoms as soon as you go into labour. They may suggest you wait a while before going in.

If you’re having your baby at home, call your midwife and tell them what’s happening.

Labour - first stage

Once your contractions have started getting closer together and more intense, this is known as the first stage. This stage lasts from the beginning of labour until your cervix is fully dilated (open to 10cm). This is usually the longest part of the labour process, and can take many hours, particularly if it is your first baby. During labour, the midwife will monitor your baby’s heart using a handheld ultrasound monitor.

Labour - second stage

This is the part when the baby is born. It starts when your cervix is fully dilated, and you begin to push. This stage can last one to two hours, sometimes longer if you have an epidural for pain relief, often shorter if you have had a baby before. Your midwife will tell you what to do.

In some cases, vaginal births cannot continue as planned due to a complication. This might be because:

the baby is breech (coming out bottom or feet first)
you or the baby are in distress

If you are experiencing any of these complications the doctor looking after you may decide the best way for you to give birth is by caesarian section. A Caesarian section is an operation (lasting about 45 minutes) to remove your baby from your uterus under either local anasthaetic (which means you stay awake) or general anasthaetic (which puts you to sleep).

The surgeon makes a small cut in your abdomen and lifts the baby out.

If you are awake, you can have someone in the operating theatre with you.

You won’t be able to see anything, as a screen will be placed across your abdomen but you will be able to see your baby as soon as it is born.

Labour - third stage

Once your baby has been born, the placenta needs to be delivered. The maternity team can help you by giving you an injection to speed things up.If you are healthy and have had a problem-free labour then you may choose to give birth to the placenta naturally without the injection.

If your baby starts trying to feed at the breast soon after birth, it makes your body release a hormone to speed up the birth of the placenta.

Coping with pain and pain relief during the birth

There are many methods available to you, including:

breathing, relaxation and massage techniques
having your labour in water, which is recommended for pain relief (eg a bath or birthing pool)
epidurals - an injection in the base of your spine, making you numb from the waist down
pethidine - a form of morphine and strong painkiller, pethidine can only be given during the first stage of labour (it may also interfere with breastfeeding)
entonox (gas and air) - a mild painkiller which you breathe in