labour and birth

Many women, their partners and family worry about where the safest place to have their baby is. After all, you will all want a safe pregnancy and birthing experience.

Essentially if you are well without any medical or obstetric (pregnancy) problems it is likely that you will not require any medical assistance or intervention. Therefore your options may include birthing at a birthing unit (Charlotte Jean Maternity Hospital, Alexandra). If you are required for medical or obstetric reasons or if that is your choice to birth in a tertiary hospital, you may want to transfer to a birthing unit after the birth. Make sure you take your baby car seat with you when you are going to the hospital.

Being more informed about the care you will receive, how your pregnancy is progressing and building up a good relationship with your midwife is important and you will be best placed later in your pregnancy to decide what is right for you, your partner, other children and family.

There is no rush to decide immediately where the best place for your baby to be born is and as you get closer to your birthing date you will be best positioned to know what is right for you. We encourage you to be in a birth environment that best suits your individual needs during the labour and birth.

During pregnancy we have helped you to prepare for labour and birth and offer the option of antenatal classes prior to this. When it is not your first baby we have discussed your previous birth history, and how this birth went for you. With the information you receive and the information you give us a risk assessment will be made and a birth plan will be completed together. Some of the things we will discuss in a birth plan are:

• Place of birth
• When you need to ring us in labour. We will discuss blood loss, contractions, waters breaking, etc.
• Who will be your support people during your labour and birth.
• Ways to cope with labour pains without drugs, ie: water, massage, TENS, breathing techniques, positional techniques and other ways to relax.
• Pharmacological pain relief in labour, ie: gas (entonox), pethidine and epidural pain relief.
• Delivery and handling of the placenta.
• Plans for when the baby is born. ie: welcoming your baby, skin-to-skin with baby, early initiation of breastfeeding.

We will provide continuity of care from admission to your chosen birth place until the birth of your baby. Once you are in labour we will continue to monitor you and your baby closely throughout your labour and give you the support and encouragement that is needed.

Our aim is that you, your partner, and family understand every step of labour and birth process. This way you will be able to be in charge of your own birthing experience and make informed choices about the care you receive. By feeling informed and having control of your labour you will be confident , enabling a positive birth experience for you and your family.