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GIVING BIRTH

Induced labour
Natural methods: vigorous walking, sex, eating curry. None are guaranteed to work.

Nearly 20% of births are induced by artificial methods like pessaries or a drip, or breaking waters manually, but there are drawbacks.
  • Induction doesn't always work.
  • Labour may be very rapid or very protracted, with particularly painful contractions.
  • More likely to have a forceps or ventouse delivery. The National Childbirth Trust recommends that before accepting induction you ask about the benefits, risks and alternatives.

    Ways of giving birth:

    Forceps and ventouse deliveries
    Used if you are very tired from long pushing, or if the baby is distressed.

    Ventouse applies suction through a plastic cup placed on the baby's head. Can usually be performed without episiotomy (cutting the skin to increase the size of the vaginal opening). Baby's head is swollen after birth.

    Forceps are placed on either side of the baby's head and then pulled. Episiotomy and     epidural or local anaesthetic routinely used. May cause bruising to baby's head and to mother's bladder.

    Water birth
    Some or all of labour spent in a birthing pool filled with warm water. Check your hospital's policy on water birth well in advance.
  • Soothing, good for pain.
  • Forceps or ventouse delivery less likely. Caesarean section
    Caesareans account for 18% of births, of which half are emergencies. The number is rising despite World Health Organisation recommendations that interventions in childbirth should be reduced.
  • Elective Caesarean Consultant decides date in advance. Needed if:
    - baby very big for your pelvis
    - placenta lying over the womb entrance (placenta praevia)
    - baby not growing well
  • Emergency Caesarean Decision to deliver by Caesarean is taken during labour, often because the baby is in distress.
    What to expect after a Caesarean
    Most are performed under epidural anaesthetic, but you will need strong pain-killers after the birth.
  • Hard to stand upright at first.
  • Drip and a bladder catheter in place for some hours after birth.
  • Aches and tiredness.
  • Mustn't lift heavy weights or drive for six weeks after the birth.
  • Gradual recovery, can take several weeks.

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