What to expect in labour and birth
What to expect in labour and birth
Labour and birth
Labour and birth
When pregnancy goes beyond your due date
When pregnancy goes beyond your due date
If you have had a healthy pregnancy without complication and haven’t gone into labour by 41 weeks you will have a routine appointment with your midwife to discuss the next steps.
What happens at your 41 week appointment?
You will be offered a membrane sweep, which is an internal examination of the cervix. During this examination your midwife will insert the tip of her finger into your cervix and sweep around the bag of membranes that cover your baby’s head. This has been shown to release hormones that may encourage labour to start within 24 hours. Sometimes the cervix isn’t yet open, and a sweep isn’t possible. You may be invited to return for more sweeps. Your midwife will also offer you a date to have your labour induced. This is normally recommended by 41 weeks and three, four or five days (depending on your maternity units guidelines and availability). Some maternity units are able to offer complementary therapy to encourage labour to start naturally. Ask your midwife about this.What to do if we argue?
What to do if we argue?
Both parents may be physically and mentally drained by the birth and the first few weeks of your baby’s life. Speaking to each other about how you feel is an important way in which you can start to address some of the concerns new parents experience. Support is available if you feel that your relationship is deteriorating. Follow the related links for self-help tips.
If arguments escalate into abusive behaviours, you can speak to a professional at the organisations below in confidence:
Womens aid
Tel: 0808 2000 247
Mens advice line
Tel: 0808 801 0327
Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline
Tel: 0800 999 5428
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone and is known to increase in times of stress.
What can we do if we argue?
How you might both feel after the baby is born?
How you both might feel after the baby is born?
The birth can often feel like such a huge event that not much time or attention is given to fatherhood and parenting. Having a baby changes relationships, carries responsibility and has significant financial impact, whilst also being a time of intense joy and pride.
In addition to postnatal depression in new mums, it is now understood that up to 10% of new dads/partners can suffer from postnatal depression, so if either of you start to feel changes in your mood, talk to your family, friends and GP.
Talking therapies
Talking therapies
Sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone that doesn’t know you. It can be a space to voice all your worries and try to make sense, or control some of the negative thoughts you might be having.
Portal: Talking Therapies in your region
What type of support is available?
What type of support is available?
Women with mild to moderate mental health concerns are supported by a range of services; their GP, midwife, health visitor, primary care psychology service/talking therapy service and in places like Children’s Centres. There are many third sector organisations that also provide a range of support services, follow the related links to find out more. You can self-refer to all of these services.
Women with more severe or complex mental health conditions, for example, severe anxiety, severe depression, psychosis and bipolar affective disorder, should be seen by a specialist perinatal mental health team. These teams are community based and are staffed by a range of professionals offering family focused interventions. These teams work closely with maternity services, health visitors, talking therapies, GPs, other community services and third sector organisations. Your midwife, GP or health visitor will refer you to your local perinatal mental team if more complex support for you is required.
Portal: What type of help is available? (Related link)
Self-help tips for postnatal emotional wellbeing
Self-help tips for postnatal emotional wellbeing
- try to sleep when the baby sleeps to minimise tiredness
- spend as much time as you like cuddling and holding your baby – this has a soothing and calming effect
- accept help with the baby from friends and family (it’s OK to take a break!)
- improve diet by eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water
- light exercise, or just being outside in fresh air can enhance your mood
- socialise (at local baby groups or Children’s Centres) to meet other parents
- use the Moment Health app to keep track of your mental health and alert you to changes in your mood.
Moment Health app
Getting help
Getting help
It can be difficult to talk about how you are feeling and ask for help.
Common reasons for this are:
- you may not know what is wrong
- you may feel ashamed that you are not enjoying your baby or coping as you believe you should
- you may worry that your baby will be taken away.
Postpartum Psychosis (PP)
Postpartum Psychosis (PP)
Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a serious mental illness which usually occurs in the first few days or weeks after childbirth. It diffes from baby blues or postnatal depression and should be treated as a medical emergency. Symptoms usually start quite suddenly within a few weeks after giving birth.
Symptoms include:
- hallucinations
- delusions – thoughts or beliefs that are unlikely to be true
- a manic mood – talking and thinking too much or too quickly, feeling high or on top of the world
- a low mood – showing signs of depression, being withdrawn or tearful, lacking energy, having a loss of appetite, anxiety or trouble sleeping
- loss of inhibitions
- feeling suspicious or fearful
- restlessness
- feeling very confused
- behaving in a way that’s out of character.
