Please only attend the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre if you are in need of emergency medical care.
NHS111 is available online to provide advice and signpost to appropriate local services.
Local pharmacists can also provide advice and treatment for most common injuries and illnesses.
During your labour and birth, we will support you on either the Labour Ward (located on B level, between junctions 3 and 4) or at home.
Throughout your labour and birth in the hospital, you may see several different people, these may include:
A midwife is your main care giver and is there to support you throughout your labour and birth. They will normally offer you one-to-one care once your labour has established.
Sometimes a doctor may be involved in your care if there are any complications or you have more complex needs during your labour and birth.
Maternity support workers offer support under the supervision of a midwife during your labour and birth. They will also help you with feeding your baby after birth. They will sometimes take your observations such as blood pressure, pulse and temperature.
If you have an epidural, you will also be cared for by an anaesthetist. Anaesthetists can also become involved in your care if you need to go to theatre, if you have complication or need a higher level of care due to medical conditions.
Student midwives and doctors offer support and care under the supervision of your midwife. This is dependent on their stage of training. Care by a student will only be provided with your consent.
If you are birthing at the hospital you will meet a clerical team member on arrival. If you have any information such as a new telephone number, GP or address, please let a member of our clerical team know and they can update your details for you.
If you have a planned or emergency caesarean birth, there will be theatre team members who can assist the anaesthetist, obstetrician and midwife caring for you.
Sometimes you will see a neonatologist or paediatrician if you need additional support with your baby. You will also see one for your Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE).
There are many ways you may experience the beginnings of your labour and birth.
In the build up to your labour starting you may experience some of the following:
When early labour starts, you may feel irregular contractions that are different in time and strength. These can last for a few days. When your contractions become strong and regular, it is a good idea to start timing between the contractions and how long they last.
If this is your first baby, you will normally be advised to go to maternity triage when your contractions are every 3 minutes and lasting for 60 seconds. If this is your second or more baby, you’ll normally be advised to go to maternity triage when your contractions are every 5 minutes and lasing for 45 seconds.
You can call maternity triage for support at any time and your midwife will advise you on when to come to the maternity unit. If you are planning a homebirth, your midwife will visit you at home.
Your waters will break before your baby is born. For most women and birthing people, they break during your labour. You may feel a small trickle or a sudden gush of liquid. The liquid is usually clear or pink in colour, but sometimes your baby can pass their first poo inside causing the liquid to become green or yellow.
If you think your waters have broken, it is very important to contact maternity triage straight away. If you think they have broken, wear a thick sanitary pad as your midwife will ask to see this when you attend maternity triage.
If your waters do break before labour, it is likely that your labour will start naturally within 24 hours. If it does not start within 24 hours, it may be recommended that your labour is induced to reduce the risk of infection to both you and your baby. The maternity triage team will discuss this with you and you can make a plan together.
Early labour (also known as the latent phase) can last anything from a few hours to a few days. During this time you may have irregular contractions that can sometimes feel regular and then stop for a few hours. Your cervix will change from being thick, firm and closed to being soft, thin and stretchy. These changes help the cervix to start opening for your baby.
The first stage of labour begins when your contractions are strong, regular and lasting at least 60 seconds and your cervix is open at least 4 centimetres. During the first stage your contractions will continue to come more regular and much stronger. This stage of labour can last around 6 to 12 hours if it is your first baby, and often quicker if you have had a baby before.
Throughout your first stage of labour your midwife will offer regular assessments of your progress and wellbeing, and the wellbeing of your baby. These can include:
Your midwife will support you with different coping strategies and help you to find the most comfortable position for you. They will also discuss pain relief when needed. If your midwife becomes concerned at any point, they will ask for a senior midwife or doctors for a second opinion.
Towards the end of your first stage you can sometimes become scared or feel out of control. This is common and is known as the ‘transition’ period. Usually, you will start to get the urge to push as your cervix nears 10 centimetres and your baby moves down the birth canal. Your midwife will support you closely during this stage.
The second stage of labour begins when your cervix opens to 10 centimetres and your baby’s head is moving through the birth canal. There is usually pressure in your bottom area, followed by the urge to push which can feel difficult to control. Sometimes, if you have had an epidural, you don’t feel this urge and your midwife will help guide and support you by letting you know when to push.
Your midwife will check your baby’s heartbeat more regularly during this stage and support you into different positions. Once your baby’s head is born, your midwife will support you to gently breathe and avoid pushing if possible to allow your perineum to stretch slowly which can help reduce tearing. Once your baby is born, the second stage ends. This stage of labour can last up to 4 hours for your first baby and much quicker if you have already had a baby before.
The third stage of labour is the time between the birth of your baby and the birth of your placenta. After your baby is born, they will still be attached to the cord which is attached to the placenta. The cord is not usually cut straight away, unless there is a problem.
There are two types of third stage: physiological and active. For the physiological stage, after around 10 to 15 minutes of giving birth your placenta will begin to separate from your uterus. Soon after you will feel some mild contractions and sometimes the urge to push. Being in an upright position can help you birth your placenta. The placenta is soft and usually painless to birth, it should slide out easily.
If you would prefer an active third stage, you will be offered an injection to help contract your uterus. The injection usually takes a few minutes to work. Your midwife or doctor will gently apply pressure on you lower abdomen and carefully pull on the cord, causing the placenta to birth. This process usually takes between 10 to 20 minutes.
During labour, there are different positions you can try to aid the decent of your baby, encourage progress in labour and help you to feel more comfortable.
This position can feel soothing and come naturally to you. It helps to encourage your baby to rotate into a good position for birth. It can help to relieve pain in the lower back or abdomen.
This position is most beneficial for resting, especially if you have a long labour. It promotes full body relaxation and lowers the need for your muscles to work harder. It can ease the pressure from the weight of your baby off your lower spine.
Using a peanut ball between your legs while side-lying can widen your pelvis, which may shorten your labour and reduce pain from your contractions. This position is good to use if you have had an epidural. It can feel soothing and encourage your baby to rotate into a good position for birth.
This position is helpful to open your pelvis to allow your baby to find a good birth position. It is best performed where there is support from a birth partner or companion.
Using an aid such as a birthing ball, chair or bed to sit upright can encourage your baby to move down into the pelvis whilst allowing you to rest.
Standing during labour helps your baby to move down into the pelvis. Moving your hips gently from side to side can provide relief during a contraction.
Most positions can be easily used and are safe to use if you choose to birth in a pool. Squatting can feel less tiring when using water, or leaning over the side of the pool can relieve pain during labour and supports your baby to move down and rotate ready for birth.
Your midwife will support you to try different positions. It is important to try whatever feels right for you.
During your labour and birth there are lots of options to help manage the sensations of the contractions as they get more regular and stronger.
During the early stages which are usually spent at home, there are lots of things you can try to ease any discomfort that you may have. Some simple things include:
There are some breathing and self-hypnosis skills you may wish to try, but these must be learnt and practised, and are usually taught by a trained and qualified practitioner. Coping strategies such as aromatherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy and reflexology are also other skills that you may want to try, but should be done with a trained and qualified practitioner as certain skills cannot be used during pregnancy or birth.
This is a small machine attached to your back that sends mild and painless electrical pulses through your body which upset the nerves that cause you pain. It is most effective in the early stages of labour.
You cannot have a pool birth with a TENS machine attached, but you can use it before entering the pool as long as all the parts are removed before getting wet.
TENS machines are not available at the hospital through the NHS, but you can rent or hire a TENS machine online or purchase one from pharmacies and other high street shops.
This is a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas. You breathe it in through a mouth piece which you control yourself. It can be used throughout your labour and birth, and can reduce the discomfort you feel from your contractions. It can also be used in the birthing pool.
Using the birthing pool can provide pain relief and aid relaxation during labour and birth. If a pool birth is suitable, the water around you will be kept at body temperature. You can get in and out of the birthing pool as you wish. You may choose to just labour in the birthing pool but can also birth in the pool if all is well during your labour.
These are strong pain-killing drugs that are given by injection. They usually take around 20 to 30 minutes to take effect and can last between 2 to 4 hours. They can help you to cope with the pain and relax you. They can make you feel drowsy and can cause nausea, but your midwife will usually offer an anti-sickness medication at the same time. These injections can cross the placenta to your baby. If your midwife does not think the medication will wear off before birth, they will not recommend it.
These are the most effective form of pain relief in labour. They are given by an anaesthetist (doctor) and is a special type of anaesthetic that goes into your back to numb the nerves that carry the pain signals to your brain. It can take around 20 minutes to work. If you have an epidural, you will also need a drip and continuous baby heartbeat monitoring. An epidural can affect your blood pressure, so your midwife will monitor it more regularly. Having an epidural can make your second stage longer and may increase the likelihood of you needing an assisted birth.
More information about coping strategies, pain relief and side effects during labour and birth is available on the NHS website.
Sometimes you may be offered an induction of labour. This will always be discussed with you and the decision is always yours.
There are various induction methods that we offer and these include:
An induction of labour can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Depending on your method, you may be able to return home. If not, please bring plenty of things to distract you as there can be a lot of waiting around while the medications work.
A vaginal birth is where you push your baby out through your vagina. This is the most common birth type and does not require any medical assistance. Generally, a vaginal birth is associated with a faster recovery and shorter stay in hospital.
An assisted vaginal birth is when a doctor either uses a ventouse (suction cup) or forceps to help your baby be born. Most people recover well and have healthy babies after an assisted vaginal birth.
A caesarean section birth is when your baby is born through an incision (cut) into your lower abdomen (tummy). Usually the cut is made along the top of your bikini line on the edge of your pubic hair. Caesarean sections can either be done as an ‘elective’ (planned) or as an ‘emergency’ procedure.
You can choose to birth your baby at home.
This is usually recommended if you have had a straight forward pregnancy and both you and your baby are well. The advantages of giving birth at home include feeling more relaxed in your familiar surroundings, not having to travel whilst in labour, less likely to have interventions, personal wishes (for example a birthing pool), being able to have your family present if you wish and much more.
Please contact your midwife if you would like more information or would like to book a home birth.
Sometimes a tear can occur to your perineum when birthing your baby which may need stitches to help it to heal. You will be offered an examination of both your perineum and rectum. Your midwife or doctor will advise if you need any stitches, as some small tears do not require any intervention. Occasionally, with a vaginal birth it may be necessary to perform a cut (episiotomy) if your baby is unwell or needs to be birthed quickly.
At Rotherham we offer, with your consent, perineal support which includes warm compresses during labour. Ask your midwife for more information.