Find out your options about where you can give birth, what happens during labour, your pain-relief choices, who'll help you and what life's like in the early days after your baby's been born.
Birth
Birth
Choosing where to give birth and what to expect during labour.
- Birth options - you have several options about where to give birth
- Home birth - the pros and cons of having your baby at home
- Assisted birth - what may happen if you or your baby face problems during labour
- Caesarean - the reasons for a caesarean and what it involves
- Start of labour - what to expect when labour starts
- Stages of labour - what to expect during the three stages of labour
- Care and support during labour - people who may help you during labour
- What partners can do during labour - practical advice on help during the big event
- Pain relief during labour - what you may be offered to relieve labour pains
- Multiple births - how labour and birth differ if you're expecting twins - or more
- Premature babies - the specialist care offered to babies who are born early
Life after birth
The reality of becomming a parent can be pretty daunting when the baby finally arrives. Find out what to expect in the first few weeks and how to deal with the challenges you might face.
- Coping after the birth - dealing with the challenges of looking after a new baby
- Postnatal depression - what to do if your 'baby blues' become more serious
- Early days and what to expect - tests, body changes and emotions in the weeks after the birth
- When your baby appears to be unwell - they can’t tell you what’s wrong, so you have to make a judgement call
- Sex after birth - when you can resume having sex and what it'll be like
- What your new baby can do - discover your newborn baby's hidden talents
- When you want another baby - is there a right time to have another?
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