First things first, all units will ask you to call before you come in. So if you're unsure, anxious, or just need a calm voice: pick up the phone. That's not bothering anyone it's exactly what the number is for. If you want to know what they're likely to say when you call, read on.... The word you'll hear: established Most units will ask you to wait until you're in established labour before coming in. It's a clinical term and it can feel a bit dismissive, like everything your

Everyone talks about labour like it starts at the dramatic bit. The intense surges, the coping, the pain relief decisions. That part gets all the airtime. Early labour doesn't. And for a first baby especially, early labour is where most of the work quietly happens AND its often at home, often for hours, sometimes for days before things ever really ramp up. What your body is actually doing Before your cervix can open, it has to do three separate things. Most people don't know

You've done the reading. You've talked about what you want. Now comes the practical bit. What does your birth partner actually do on the day? Most of it comes down to knowing you. But let’s be real—there are some things worth thinking about in advance. In the heat of the moment, nobody remembers to think of them! The Questions Worth Asking Before You Go Into Labour Do You Want to Be Touched? Some women crave constant physical contact during labour. Others can’t bear to be tou