Even if you're having a home birth planned, we still suggest packing a maternity hospital bag should you need to make an unexpected trip to the hospital during or after birth.

You'll need hospital essentials for labour and straight after birth. Knowing you've got a pre-packed hospital bag all ready to go will be a weight off your mind in the days coming up to your due date.

There’s lots to pack, from the practical – birth plan, any medical notes, breast pads and maternity pads – to the more comfy such as clothes and toiletries.

You might also want to think about preparing a second bag to be taken in later if you stay in the hospital for some time. Are you thinking of travelling abroad during pregnancy? Find out ways to keep safe and protected when travelling and how airline policies can affect your decision on when and where to go. Discover our Air travel during pregnancy guide, safety tips and what to expect.

To help you organise, we've created a downloadable PDF checklist, so you can check off the items as you pack them.

You'll want to think about what to put in:

• Your hospital bag (before/during labour)
• Your hospital bag (after delivery)
• Your newborn's hospital bag
• Your birth partner's hospital bag

When to pack your hospital bag

It's a well-known fact that babies hardly ever arrive on their due date. Only 1 in 20 babies make their appearance into the world on their predicted big day so packing a hospital bag in advance is the best way to go.

You can pack your bag as early as you desire, after all, some mums find the whole experience to be an exciting activity. Otherwise, we suggest to start packing in your third trimester at around 36-38 weeks pregnant.

You can adjust the timings according to your individual situation, for example, if you know for certain you'll be going into labour early due to an induction booked or if your pregnancy is considered 'high risk' then you'll need to pack your hospital bag accordingly.

Having a hospital bag ready and packed in advance means you won't experience the anxiety-inducing panic of trying to find everything you need in the middle of active labour. It's reassuring to be prepared for birth in good timing.

Once your maternity hospital bag is packed, it can just sit there ready for the big moment to arrive.

What to pack for you (before/during labour)

Birth plan and medical notes

Your birth plan details what will happen before, during and after birth. It also includes who will be there, what pain relief you might want to use, any conditions you have that your carers need to be aware of and what you want to happen straight after birth. For example, would you like your partner to cut the cord? Do you want to be the first to hold your baby – and so on.

Make sure to keep your birth plan and medical notes all in one place, neat and protected in an easily accessible folder. Check out our pick of this personalised pregnancy folder below.

Available here: Etsy

Dressing gown and comfortable clothing for labour

Depending on how long you'll be in labour, you might find yourself wandering around the hospital to pass long waiting hours. A dressing gown is easy to put on and take off if you need an extra layer when walking around or simply to keep a bit of dignity. Here are some comfortable maternity dressing gowns that will fit around your baby bump.

Available here: Amazon, Seraphine and Bullabaloo

During labour comfort is essential – something loose and light is best to wear if you're not given a hospital gown. We recommend a dress for convenient access during medical examinations and easy exit for your baby! Remember, dark colours are the best option if you're concerned about visible stains during labour. Check out our recommendations for convenient labour gowns below.

Available here: Amazon, Amazon and Seraphine

Slippers, socks and flip-flops

Believe it or not – your feet can become quite cold during labour. Keep your legs and feet warm by packing some socks in your hospital bag. Slippers are handy too for taking walks outside of your birthing room.

Taking a shower in the hospital with your bare feet might not be appealing to some – take your flip flops into the shower to protect them and give you peace of mind.

Available here: TU Sainsbury's, IKEA and Matalan

Travel-size toiletries

Feel your best self by having your personal toiletries at hand. The last thing you want is to take a shower and not have your favourite essentials. Bring along travel-size mini versions of your toiletries especially if you want to carry light and save space in your maternity hospital bag. Throw in some antiseptic cleaning wipes too if you’re worried about the quality of hospital cleanliness or the shared toilets. Grab a few of your essentials below.

Available here: Boots, Superdrug and Amazon

Relaxation, comfort and pain relief tools

It's coming up to showtime and the moment you've been waiting for is slowly unfolding. Don't get carried away though, remember to have ready your relaxation tools such as a music playlist, heated pad, ice pack, TENS machine and/or hypnobirthing essentials. A TENS machine can be purchased or hired depending on your budget and they make a great tool for managing pain in the early stages of labour (as long as you don't mind wires and are not having a water birth).

If you decide on using hypnobirthing as a way of pain management, be sure to set the right atmosphere in your birthing room with rechargeable tealights, affirmation quotes, photos and aromatherapy spray. This is all of course down to personal choice, perhaps a soft pillow is all the comfort you need during labour – bring that along if so. Check out our picks of comfort items below.

What to pack for you (after delivery)

Postpartum toiletries and towels

Once the hard work of giving birth is over and you've met your new baby, you'll also have a new body to take care of. Make sure to pack those essential postpartum recovery toiletries such as heavy-duty maternity pads, cooling pads, witch hazel spray and more. We've shared below some postpartum recovery kits that have everything you need post-birth.

Remember a plastic bag to store dirty clothing in.

Available here: My Expert Midwife, Frida Mom and Lansinoh

Underwear

This is all about comfort here. You've just birthed a whole baby and you might be sore down there afterwards. Pack 5-6 pairs of comfortable, old knickers you don't mind getting stained with postpartum bleeding or disposable plastic ones do the trick too.

Available here: Amazon, Boots, Tesco and Jojo Maman Bebe

Nightdress

After labour and delivery, taking a shower and slipping into something comfortable is one of the best feelings – after eating a slice of toast and tea of course! Opt for cosy nightwear or a large, oversized top with front-opening options to make breastfeeding easier if you choose to.

Comfortable/nursing bra and breast pads

Should you choose to breastfeed your newborn baby, there are a few things that will make breastfeeding that much easier and comfortable. A nursing bra is a great way to keep you supported and also allow your baby quick and convenient access when it's time to feed.

Available here: John Lewis and Amazon

Reusable or disposable breast pads are useful too in catching any leaks you might have in between feeds.

Available here: Boots, John Lewis and Mamas & Papas (reusable)

Cosmetics and skincare

Giving birth is hard work and one of the ways to feel like yourself again is by having your favourite cosmetics and skincare products with you. After delivery, freshen up and feel brand new by reaching for your cosmetics bag.

Snacks and drinks

Cereal bars, dried fruit, water, small juice cartons are just a few things to have post-birth for energy. Focus on protein, glucose and electrolytes that will give you and your partner that well-needed energy after labour.

Going home outfit

This is entirely your choice – if you think a loose-fitting dress sounds comfortable then go ahead and pack that. Otherwise, if you want to feel and look your best on the drive home with your baby, then pack a cute, homecoming outfit to your heart's desire. Just ensure whatever you bring has enough stretch and give around the tummy and groin area.

Glasses and contact lenses

It's easy to forget the little yet important things when packing a hospital bag. Bring along your glasses and/or contact lenses if you know you'll need them.

Eye mask and earplugs

After an intense labour and delivery experience and once all the adrenaline has worn off, you'll most likely be ready for your victory sleep. The maternity ward can be quite noisy and busy and it might be tricky trying to relax, bringing a pair of eye masks and earplugs can help you get some much-needed rest (until baby wakes you up again).

What to pack for your new baby

Baby changing items

You'll need nappies and wipes for changing your newborn. The first meconium (sticky poo) is known for being quite hard to clean off your baby's bottom, pack some cotton wool balls to gently remove the meconium. Pack nappy sacks for disposing of dirty nappies and a fold-up changing mat to lay baby on.

Baby clothing

Dress up your newborn in a babygrow and vest, bring spares just in case. Your baby will need a suitable going-home outfit, a hat and booties. Optional scratch mittens for their tiny hands and socks if their feet are exposed.

Muslin squares are also super useful for feeding and wiping off milk, spit-ups and frankly for so many

Available here: Aden+Anais and Boots

Car seat

Ready for the trip home from the hospital? Every hospital will expect you to bring a car seat to take your baby home in. If you still haven't managed to buy one we have some recommendations below.

Read our MadeForMums review of 14 best baby car seats from birth

How your birth partner can help

Your birth partner will be with you every step of the way during labour and birth. Whether it's your husband, partner, friend, sister or family member, it's good to ensure they have everything prepared so that when labour kicks off, they can keep calm and focus on assisting you.

The last thing you want is for your birth partner to have to make trips back home during such a crucial time.

Your birth partner can pack items for themselves but also for you too. They can help with bringing the car seat in for the new baby and helping you to feel as comfortable as they possibly can. Here are the things your partner's hospital bag should include:

Snacks and drinks

Labour and delivery can be long and tiresome, arming yourself with nutritious snacks can help keep energy levels up so that you're able to fully support the pregnant mum.

Change of clothes

Just in case you're in the hospital for over 24 hours and you feel like freshening up and changing then have some spare clothes ready to change into.

Blanket and pillow

Because if you're able to take a nap, the hospital chair won't be as comfortable as a ward bed so have a pillow and blanket handy to keep comfortable.

Mobile phone and camera

This goes without saying, just don't forget to bring chargers and a power bank to charge your phone if you're not able to find a plug socket.

Toiletries and swimwear

You could be at the hospital for just a night or for an extended period. In any case, you want to be prepared and have your toiletries essentials packed to freshen up. These include deodrant, toothbrush, toothpaste and anything eske.

Entertainment

This could be a magazine, a book or headphones and tablet to keep yourself occupied in between the quiet moments of labour.

Pics: Getty Images

Our hospital bag checklist download

Click here to download a PDF version of our checklist for you to check off the items as you pack them

Read more:

• 14 best car seats from birth
• Positive birth stories from our MadeForMums Community

One twin was delivered in the hospital car park; the other was born just under 20 minutes later, on the labour ward. It was Kathleen's second labour experience: she also has an older daughter.

This is Kathleen's twin birth story:

"When the sonographer at my 12-week dating scan asked if there were twins in the family, I started laughing hysterically and my husband started crying. There are no twins in either of our families so we were utterly flabbergasted. It was the biggest shock of our lives!

"I made it to 35 weeks. We started the day by taking our toddler daughter to Pets at Home to see some animals and then popped into a couple of shops. By coincidence, my husband had been due to meet some friends that day but it had been cancelled due to train strikes. Never have I been more thankful for the strike on that day!

"On the drive home, I had two mild contractions. My husband offered to drive but I insisted I was fine! The drive home was around 10 minutes and, as we pulled up, I said we needed to ring the hospital and also the grandparents so there was someone to look after our daughter. We got home and put our daughter down for a nap and called the hospital.

"This was a totally surreal moment as I don't recall my waters breaking with my first labour. I'd only just been to the loo so I knew I hadn't just had an accident.

"I thought, 'Oh my god, this is actually happening!'

"Thankfully, my hospital bags had been in the car since I was 28 weeks pregnant, so there was no last-minute panic trying to find things. We phoned my parents but they didn't pick up as they were in the garden but thankfully my father-in-law was able to come around to watch our daughter.

"Our hospital was half an hour away. My husband drove as quickly as he could. We left the house at about 1pm. On the drive there, the contractions were non-stop. At one point, I wanted to cry – just for some release – but I wasn't able to. I tried to listen to the songs on the radio to focus on something but it was impossible.

"While we were in the car, my parents phoned back and we updated them, so they drove over to collect our daughter. It took everything in my power not to shout or moan as my husband was talking to them on the phone.

"As we reached the hospital, I could feel my body pushing. I knew one twin was breech as we had had a scan just 2 days before, so we needed to be at the hospital.

"We pulled into the hospital car park and this was when I realised that baby number one was coming! My husband had got out of the car and told me to get out but I told him I couldn't as the baby was coming. I'm not sure how I knew at that moment: it was completely instinctive but my body just took over. I got my underwear down in time for my husband to see the baby arriving bottom first!

"We wrapped her in my Primark cardigan and my husband shouted, 'Help, help, my wife's just had a baby and there is another one on the way!' Two people outside the entrance rushed in to tell the person at reception.

"The crash teams descended on the car parks and got us into the hospital to deliver the next twin.

"They quickly cut Ivy's cord and my husband went with her to get her checked over. I felt bizarrely normal after the birth and the staff helped me into a wheelchair. I even recognised a few of the staff from some of my previous appointments.

"We got into the delivery room and they scanned me to check that Rose was still head down and before I knew it my contractions had started again. She arrived 16 minutes later.

"Ivy weighed 4lb 5oz and Rose weighed 4lb 14oz. It was from the planned C-section that we had envisaged: 3 hours from the start of contractions to cuddling both babies!"

Pics: Kathleen Nelson. As told to Janet Mtima 

Read more:

• 'The midwife announced I was 9cm. I was in shock!' Alysia's induction birth story
• 17 early signs that labour is near
• What does it mean when your baby's head is engaged?

A membrane sweep is a way of helping to bring labour on if you go past your due date. It's a quick procedure in which a midwife or doctor 'sweeps' their gloved finger around the neck of your womb (cervix) to try to separate the membranes of your baby's amniotic sac from the cervix. This can cause your body to release hormones that can trigger labour.

This is Aarti's unplanned home birth story:

"For my second pregnancy I had a membrane sweep in the hospital at 40 weeks pregnant and was told labour may begin within 24-48 hours. I remember being quite nervous for the sweep as I found the internal examinations during my first labour to be extremely painful. Thankfully the sweep was only slightly uncomfortable, similar to a smear test.

"My mum, a GP, offered to stay over at our house that night in case I needed help with the toddler or if labour was to begin. With my first pregnancy, the sweep did nothing and I ended up being induced. This time round, I didn’t have any signs of labour either so I wasn’t hopeful that the sweep would do anything. I almost told my mum not to bother coming, but I’m so glad I didn’t!

"The pain was enough to wake me up, but felt more like period pains, and I was able to breathe through them. I woke my husband who gave me an encouraging rub on the back and told me the contractions were 'exciting'!

"From my experiences of first labour, I knew there was no point in us both being awake through the night so I told him to sleep and that I would wake him if they got worse. Safe to say he was asleep before I finished my sentence!

"I started tracking my contractions using the first contraction timer app I could find on the App Store, and they got closer together around 4am until they varied between 5 and 7 minutes. I woke my husband who put the TENS machine on me, which helped a lot.

"Around 5am the contractions were regularly 5 minutes apart, although they were still mild. I called my hospital, as my midwife had told me that as it was my second pregnancy, I should call them when my contractions were 5 minutes apart. The midwife took some details but told me to stay at home and keep monitoring, as my waters hadn’t broken yet and the contractions were mild. Shortly after that, they seemed to slow down and become milder and I was actually able to sleep through them.

"At 6.45am I woke up my mum as I was still contracting and they were getting a bit stronger. I was still able to breathe through them and walk around, but my mum suggested we call the hospital just in case. The midwives again were very relaxed and said that I might as well start making my way in because central London traffic may be bad!

"Around 7am I started to get ready. Our 2-year-old’s nursery was on the way to the hospital so our plan was to drop him there at 7.30am and then make our way to the hospital.

"At 7.15am I was brushing my teeth when my contractions suddenly went from 0-100 and the pain was immense. The contractions went from around 5 minutes to what felt like non-stop, so with great difficulty I managed to clamber into my bedroom to change my clothes.

"I remember shouting to my husband and mum “I don’t think we’ll have time to drop off at nursery!”

"Whilst struggling to change out of my pyjamas (which were completely tangled into the tens machine), I felt a huge and extremely painful contraction, along with which my waters broke and gushed out, just like in the movies!

"Thankfully my husband was on toddler duty and was there reassuring him I was ok.

"I remember telling myself that no matter how painful, I just needed to get the baby out safely. I used every ounce of energy I had in me. At 7.25am, after 5 minutes and 3 pushes later baby Rian was delivered by my mum, with my 2-year-old and husband watching! He cried straight away, which was a massive relief to us all.

"Amidst all the chaos, my husband had managed to call 999, and an ambulance was dispatched immediately although it didn’t arrive until about 5 minutes after my baby was born. Although my mum had been a doctor for 35 years, she said it had been 30 years since she delivered a baby, so the paramedic on the phone provided helpful support.

"I remember hearing her tell my husband to find something clean and sterile to clamp the cord. She suggested a shoelace however my mum managed to find an unused face mask and took the string from that.

"When the ambulance arrived soon after I was still in a lot of pain as the placenta hadn’t been delivered. It was almost as painful as the worst contractions! There were 4 paramedics, 2 of whom were attending to my baby (wrapping him up in towels, and turning on portable heaters to make the room really warm). The other two paramedics (and my mum) were kneeling on the bed around me, trying various things to deliver the placenta.

"Our bed was broken in the process! Eventually, they made me stand up which was extremely painful and uncomfortable, but it did the trick.

"My husband relayed to them that we wanted delayed cord clamping, so after I and baby had both been cleaned up and checked, my husband cut the cord. We were then taken in the ambulance to the hospital to do the necessary checks. Sadly with all the chaos at the hospital, I didn’t get the tea and toast that I had been looking forward to but luckily my gem of a mum had thought ahead and packed me a jam toastie just in case!

"We are still in disbelief to this day that it happened like this but it was very special.

"My neighbours couldn’t believe it when we told them as they didn’t hear a thing. My now 3-year-old still talks about it and tells everyone how his baby brother came out of mummy's belly in the bedroom."

Pic credit: Aarti Jagpal. As told to Janet Mtima 

Read more:

• Sammi's unplanned home birth
• Kathleen's natural twin birth story
• Hannah's natural birth story

Cord blood is the blood found in the placenta and umbilical cord after the birth of your baby.

How is cord blood collected?

After the birth (vaginal or caesarean) the placenta and umbilical cord are taken by trained professionals to a designated collection facility where 40ml to 150ml of blood is collected by a needle inserted into the placenta. Both cord blood and cord tissue is collected from the placenta and umbilical cord. The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) urges that this must be carried out by a separate registered individual not involved in the delivery, to ensure maximum care is given to you and your baby.

NICE and WHO currently recommend delayed umbilical cord clamping (not earlier than 1 minute after birth) to allow more blood to reach the baby and to help prevent anaemia. It is still possible for banks to collect quality cord blood following delayed clamping, although it is best for the cord blood to be drained as soon as possible to maximise the potential volume.

According to the Human Tissue Authority (HTA), there’s no legislation governing the specific techniques of cord blood collection, however, by law, anyone collecting cord blood must be appropriately trained and working under the authority of an HTA licence.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has released guidelines that state the importance of collection taking place in a clean environment once the planceta has been delivered, though there’s some suggestion that it can be done while the placenta is still in situ.

How is cord blood stored?

Cells are frozen in liquid nitrogen and are currently being stored for up to 25 years. Studies suggest the length of time samples could be stored is infinite, but more information is needed.

While the NHS extracts the stem cells before freezing (known as volume reduced storage) some private companies store all of the blood (known as whole cord blood storage). It’s suggested that whole cord blood storage is more beneficial, however it’s nine times more expensive to store and so isn’t always financially sustainable.

Why is cord blood useful?

The stem cells found in cord blood are called ‘naïve cells’ as they’re able to transform into other cell types when influenced by the right stimuli. Umbilical cord blood cells are some of the most naïve cells found in our bodies.

How is cord blood used?

Cord blood is used in stem cell treatment. Current uses include the treatment of many cancers, blood diseases, immune diseases and metabolic diseases in children and young adults. A cord blood transplant replaces diseased cells with healthy new cells, rebuilding an individual’s blood and immune system. Stem cell transplants can help patients whose own bone marrow isn’t working due to disease or after having chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Bone marrow vs cord blood transplant

It’s often easier to find a match with stem cord blood than bone marrow and it’s also more readily available. However, the disadvantage is that there may not be enough cells for a transplant.

Is cord blood collection safe?

It’s extremely important to ensure cord blood is collected by an accredited Health Tissue Authority (HTA) regulated public or private body. Samples need to be traceable from collection to treatment in order to ensure legality and safety for everyone involved.

The HTA states: “The Health Tissue Authority (HTA) regulates the collection (procurement) of cord blood in the UK under the Human Tissue (Quality and Safety for Human Application) Regulations 2007 (Q&S Regulations). HTA Directions require any person collecting cord blood to be acting under the authority of a HTA license or a Third Party Agreement (TPA).”

• Your newborn baby’s first tests and checks
• All about vitamin K for your baby
• Writing your birth plan

Is cord blood collection always successful?

No. Blood clotting can affect collection and if less than 40ml is collected the sample is unlikely to be large enough to be used for a stem cell transplant. If using a private cord blood collection service and if the cell count viability is below a certain level, storage isn’t recommended but it’s up to you and you could still pay to have it stored.

What tests are carried out on the blood sample?

Both your blood and the cord blood sample is tested for Hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis and HTLV (Human T-lymphotropic virus – a human RNA retovirus know to cause a type of cancer) if required in order to ascertain whether the blood sample is suitable for future transplant. In some instances the biological father’s blood may also need to be tested.

Cord blood collection may not be possible/advisable if…

• Your baby is premature
• You’re having a multiple pregnancy
• The cord needs to be cut because it’s around your baby’s neck
• You need to have an emergency caesarean
• Yourself or your baby’s biological father prove positive for transmissible infection
• If cord clamping is delayed, cord blood collection may not be possible (studies demonstrate the benefits of delayed cord clamping, so you’ll need to weigh up which is more important to you)

What’s the difference between public and private cord blood collection services?

There’s no charge to donate your cord blood. Currently 10 NHS hospitals are able to take donations and depending on the location the donation may be sent to an NHSBT (Nation Health Service Blood Transplant) facility Anthony Nolan or Cells4Life.

However, publicly donated cord blood means your cord blood sample is available to all patients in need of stem cell treatment around the world. There's no guarantee your cord blood sample will be available for your own family’s future use. There’s some evidence to suggest that another person’s blood sample may be of better use in tackling inherited diseases.

Find out which NHS hospitals are equipped to take cord blood samples online or visit the Cells4Life donation page here, which lists the hospitals where Cells4Life facilitates cord blood donation. While many hospitals now have the facilities to provide 24/7 collection, this can’t be guaranteed and cord collection may not always be possible. You must register with the NHSBT before the 30th week of your pregnancy as by this stage they will need verbal confirmation as well as completion of a mini lifestyle assessment.

Private storage can cost up to £3,000 but your blood is stored purely for your child or family’s future use. Each hospital will have its own policy on private banking. You can find out what private cord blood facilities are available online. The Royal College of Gynaecologists (RCOG) states that it “remains unconvinced about the benefit of storing cord blood with a private bank for families who have no known medical reason to do so”.

What’s the likelihood of a cord blood sample being used?

Sources suggest that there’s between a 1 in 1,400 and 1 in 20,000 chance of a cord blood sample ever being used. However, the NHSBT reports that if a full programme of stem cell treatments was to be used it could save 200 lives a year. So far it is estimated that 40,000 cord blood transplants have been carried out worldwide since 1988.

This is Hannah's quick natural birth story:

"I was 39 weeks pregnant when I dropped my youngest daughter off at nursery and started experiencing contractions on the drive home. I spoke with my husband Lewis on the phone and he said he'd have a bath waiting for me when I got back. I spent the morning pottering around trying to put the washing away in preparation for what I was certain was impending.

"I felt relieved that things were starting because the doctors had been keen for me to be induced, but I was adamant that while the baby was happy and healthy and so was I, that I wanted labour and birth to progress naturally and when the baby was ready. It’s always a bit nerve-racking though when it starts. Lewis always feels a bit panicky (this is our 4th baby) and helpless when labour starts – he worries until we get to the hospital then once the professionals take over, he begins to relax.

"At 10.30am I lost my mucus plug which is a jelly-like, thick mucus that seals the opening of the cervix. So I started to run another bath whilst finishing off putting my eldest daughter's laundry away.

"My first thought was thank goodness I got off the carpet in time and thank goodness I got that washing put away – the thought of coming home from hospital with a newborn AND a messy house, filled me with dread! My thoughts then quickly moved to, oh my goodness, it's actually happening! I had spent the morning up until then wondering if I was wrong about the labour starting, so when my waters broke it was confirmation that my instincts had been right.

"My husband was upstairs in the shower so he had no idea that any of this had happened as he was getting ready for an appointment himself. He eventually came down and met me on the phone with the hospital.

"My mum arrived just as the triage midwife advised that I should come into the hospital as my contractions were established and coming every 5 minutes. She was going to stay with me while my husband nipped to his appointment and ran some errands. I was keeping a note of the time of each contraction in the notes section of my phone, I still have the record which I sometimes look back on even now!

"We made it to the hospital at midday and I declined him getting me a wheelchair although it turned out that we ended up needing one as we'd accidentally got off on the wrong floor and my contractions were now pretty debilitating.

"The midwives ended up meeting me in the corridor with a wheelchair and wheeling me into the delivery suite. It took about 20 minutes to get all my notes on the whiteboard, discuss some essentials and carry out a vaginal examination which revealed that I was 5cm dilated. At this point my husband piped up that there would be a baby within an hour, which the midwives waved off with a laugh.

"My mum has always been desperate to see the birth of a grandchild, as me and my siblings were all delivered through c-sections in which she was put to sleep, so we invited her to be our second birth partner which she was absolutely thrilled about.

"Much to my horror I had no time for any pain relief other than gas and air, but thankfully we ended up with a quick arrival. Twenty minutes later I said that I wanted to push, I was re-examined and was now 9cm dilated. At 1.05pm I began voluntarily pushing, at 1.10pm our daughter's head was delivered and at 1:11pm on Friday 23 June – Georgiana arrived.

"Baby Georgiana was born weighing 9lb 2oz – my biggest baby! I was relieved that it was over and delighted to welcome our new addition. I must say that I was also feeling rather proud of myself for what my body had achieved and for holding firm to my instincts of not allowing myself to be pressured into an induction.

"My husband couldn't help but remind the midwives that he'd told them that there would be a baby here within the hour!"

Pic credit: Hannah Damary-Wilson. As told to Janet Mtima

Read more:

• Alysia's induction birth story
• Sammi's unplanned home birth story
• Georgie's unplanned emergency c-section birth story

An induced labour is one that is started artificially – with hormones, administered as tablets, a vaginal pessary or through an IV drip. Induction may be offered if your baby's overdue, if your waters have broken, if you have a health condition or if your baby is not thriving.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can affect some women during pregnancy. It tends to appear in later pregnancy and usually disappears after your baby is born. You can usually treat it with changes in the way you eat and exercise but some women may need medication.

This is Louisa's induction birth story:

"It was confirmed in May that I had gestational diabetes 7 months into the pregnancy of my second child by way of a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test that measures your blood glucose levels. I had been closely monitored during this pregnancy prior to the tests as I also had gestational diabetes with my first born too.

"I felt extremely deflated as it meant I had to be very careful with what I ate as certain foods caused my blood sugars to spike quite high - I was hoping I could indulge a little being pregnant! I eventually had to control my diabetes with diabetic medication and insulin injections.

"Because I had gestational diabetes I was consultant-led during the pregnancy rather than just being seen by midwives. They decided to induce me at 38 weeks. I was quite upset about being induced - I was in two minds about what the right thing to do was.

"Ultimately I wanted my baby to be safe and decided to go ahead with the induction. I’m self-employed too, so I had to plan for my business to “holiday” for a week or so as I didn’t know how long I would be in hospital and it’s only myself who runs it and does all the work.

"I was given 3 inductions over 3 days, the method used was the Propess pessary. My partner was with me the whole time which helped a lot. Luckily my mum came to stay for the week to look after our son, but I felt extremely guilt leaving him for so long as I naively expected I’d be in and out within a couple of days!

"None of the methods worked so they broke my waters at 1cm dilated on day 3 of the hospital stay. I was put on the oxytocin drip to bring labour on faster at around 6pm.

"The pain intensified quite quickly as they put the drip on too strong but I was left to deal with it as there was an emergency elsewhere. I was in so much pain but slightly out of it as I had gas and air to help me deal with it. My partner didn’t know what to do as he could see how much pain I was in and there was little he could do.

"The midwife finally came back and dropped it down but I was in full-on labour by this point. I used lots of gas and air to get me through and I remember thinking, this is way more painful than my first. After pushing for about an hour, I heard the midwife say: "We'll have to intervene if he's not out on the next push".

"Louis Stuart was born at exactly 10pm on Wednesday 6th July weighing 6lb 10oz."

Pic credit: Louisa Cockcroft. As told to Janet Mtima

Read more:

• Alysia Leigh's induction birth story
• Sammi Brennan's home birth story
• Kathleen's quick twin birth story 

A back-to-back position means that the baby is lying head down in the womb with its spine towards the mother's back. Most back-to-back babies will turn so that their spine is facing out towards the bump (the best position to fit through the mother's pelvis) before or during labour. If the baby doesn't turn vaginal delivery is still possible, although in some circumstances a c-section may be required.

This is Georgie's unplanned c-section birth story:

"At 40 weeks pregnant, I went into labour on my due date 22nd July. The contractions were coming but I wasn’t fully aware. In fact, I barely noticed over lunch and my partner Danny and I went for a long walk. I would never have believed that I would go into labour on my due date as it’s quite rare.

"At approximately 9.00pm I was at home watching TV when I noticed some tightening, but it wasn’t painful. I rang Lauren, my best friend, who is a community midwife and she confirmed I was in the early stages of labour. Lauren and I met having moved in opposite each other and both realised we worked in the same hospital as I am a nurse myself.

"We walked the dog around the village at 2.00am whilst I was having more frequent, stronger contractions. After having a bath and pacing the garden, Lauren came over and checked how dilated I was. We were guided by Lauren and her expertise and she came and monitored me at our home (she lives opposite us). We didn’t go into the hospital straight away, because the contractions were a gradual build-up. It was also during the covid pandemic so we were trying to keep out of the hospital until it was essential. I was excited but in the mindset of right, my body is taking the lead I have to mentally go with it. Danny was great, calm, eating copious amounts of chorizo and getting ready to drive me in!

"We drove into the birthing centre at the hospital at around 5.00am. Thankfully Lauren was able to come into the hospital on an extra shift and it was pure luck that I went into labour when she was able to come in – this was authorised by the head of midwifery.

"The birthing pool helped with the pain and at 8cm my waters were broken. I had a couple of rather odd laughing episodes (yes it was the gas and air) plus Danny making me laugh by dropping the gas and air and breaking it! He also kept feeding me jelly baby sweets – I’ve not touched one since! Before you know it, I was pushing. It was the most natural, overwhelming sensation! We arrived at the hospital at around 5.00am in the morning and I was pushing by mid-morning.

"After 1hr 40minutes, it became apparent my son wasn’t getting past the ‘U-bend’. In other words, the baby was struggling to make its own way through the birth canal, which is the passageway a baby takes through their mother to be born. We were all calm but I was exhausted and I asked for help.

"I was transferred quickly upstairs to the labour ward for the ventouse and a catheter. After a quick decision from the obstetrician, they swiftly moved me to theatre with the aim for a forceps birth.

"At that point, I was ready to just go with it and was completely exhausted.

"A lot happened in a short amount of time. I was shaking from the drugs and adrenaline. By this point though I was just relieved that I had had a spinal and that I could relax from the contractions.

"There was a moment when I told the poor anaesthetist to leave me alone as I was contracting and he was trying to do his bit simultaneously. During the c-section all I felt was my body moving but no pain. A few tears were shed too between Danny and I as we were all a bit surprised at how it had turned out.

"Baby Jack finally arrived and my best friend Lauren was the ‘baby catcher’. She whisked our son off with Danny to weigh him and Danny got to have cuddles and cut the remainder of the cord.

"I tried to hold Jack but I was shaking so much. But as we moved to recovery I was able to have that touch time, and tea and toast! My biggest fear was a c-section, but it was nothing to fear when it came down to it and I would choose it again.

"Jack arrived safely on 23rd July at 2.43pm weighing 8lbs and 3oz. Our student midwife who had done an A-Level in Photography kindly took some images for us.

Pic credit: Georgie Le. As told to Janet Mtima

Read more:

• Sammi Brennan's unplanned home birth story
• Alysia Leigh's induction birth story
• Kathleen's twin birth story

But what exactly do these terms mean? And how does dilation and effacement actually happen? What does it feel like, how long does it takes – and what do all the centimetre measurements mean? Here, with the help of a fruity chart (above), we explain all...

What is cervical dilation?

Throughout your pregnancy, your cervix is fully closed and sealed with a mucus plug to protect your developing baby. Cervical dilation (often just called dilation) is the process in which your cervix gradually opens so that, during labour, your baby can pass through into your vagina to be born.

Dilation is measured by midwives in centimetre stages – as you can see in our chart above – with 0cm being the completely closed stage and 10cm (the approximate diameter of a baby's head) being the fully dilated stage.

When you're about 3cm dilated, you are officially in the 'active' stage of labour (see The 3 stages of labour, below). When your cervix has dilated to the full 10cm, you will be ready for the final pushing stage of labour that precedes the birth.

What is effacement?

Cervical effacement (often called 'ripening' in the past) is what usually starts to happen before dilation – and it's where your tightly closed cervix stretches, softens and thins, and the mucus plug that's been closing and protecting the opening to your womb comes away.

Midwives and doctors tend to talk about effacement in percentages – with '100% effaced' meaning that your cervix is fully thinned.

Effacement doesn't have to complete before dilation starts; the stages of effacement and dilation tend to overlap, with effacement starting first and completing before dilation is fully complete.

The process of effacement and dilation up to 3cm is called 'pre-labour' or the 'early phase of labour' (see The 3 stages of labour, below). Once your cervix is 100% effaced and 10cm dilated, you will be ready to push your baby into the world.

The 3 stages of labour

• 1st stage: the dilation of the cervix from 0cm to 10cm. This stage is commonly divided into a) early or pre-labour, which involves the effacement of the cervix and then the 1st few centimetres' dilation and b) active labour, where dilation continues up to 10cm.
• 2nd stage: the pushing stage, from when the cervix is fully dilated until the baby is born
•  3rd stage: the delivery of the placenta.

When does effacement and cervical dilation happen? What are the signs?

Well, to be honest, there's no telling.

The beginnings of effacement and dilation can occur gradually without you even knowing it, over the last weeks or even months of your pregnancy. Or it can happen much more quickly and lead straight into labour.

That said, for most of us – particularly if we haven't had a baby before – it happens between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy, when we are 'full term' and ready to go into labour.

You may not notice any signs when effacement and dilation begin but some pregnant women will have what's commonly called a 'show' or a 'bloody show': that's when mucus plug that's dislodged from the opening of your cervix as it starts to efface shows up in your pants as a small blob or trickle of clear, pink or blood-tinged mucus.

What does it feel like? Does it hurt?

To kick off and sustain effacement and dilation, your womb contracts. You may not notice anything at all at first or you may feel a pressure on your cervix or mild pains in your lower back or abdomen.

Initially, contractions can be faint/unnoticeable and irregular but, as labour progresses, they'll become more regular and more intense.

Unhelpfully, it's hard to line up the intensity of contractions with the progress of dilation: some women can be in the early phase of labour and dilate up to 3cm without even being aware of it; others may be very aware of the contractions from the get go.

Whatever it's feeling like, do follow the advice your midwife will have given you and contact your labour ward/delivery centre once your contractions are coming regularly, at least every 5 minutes or so, and lasting at least 1 minute.

How long does it take to dilate to 10cm?

It's very variable, particularly in the first stage.

The first stage of dilation-and-effacement and then the subsequent gradual dilation up to about 3cm, can take some time – even a few days or weeks, if you've had a baby before.

But it can also happen much more quickly than that.

Once you are at 3cm to 4cm and in active labour, your cervix is likely to continue dilating at a rate of about 1 cm per hour, though again it can be quicker.

If things are progressing much more slowly than this, or has stopped altogether, then your midwife or medical team may consider interventions to help.

Once you are 10cm dilated, you enter the '2nd stage' of labour (see The 3 stages of labour, above) and this generally lasts about an hour or two. If you've been pushing for more than an hour or so, your midwife may consider advising intervention to help with delivery.

Is there anything you can do to dilate faster?

It can help speed things up if you keep moving: change positions, walk about, get in a warm bath/pool.

There are also medical interventions your midwife may consider to speed up dilation, including breaking your waters – where a small hook is inserted through your cervix to break the membranes around the baby.

Alternatively, or additionally, a drip containing the hormone syntocinon can also be used to stimulate contractions (It is the contractions that cause the dilation of the cervix, so the stronger the contractions, the stronger the effects on the cervix.)

Do you to have to dilate to 10cm before your baby comes?

Yes. You might think that if your baby is measuring small, you may not need to dilate to 10cm to deliver them. Not so.

You have to be fully effaced and dilated in order to deliver a baby. In fact, if you feel the urge to push, your midwife is likely to check – with a vaginal examination – that you are fully dilated before allowing you to push as, sometimes, the pressure on your rectum (bottom) can make you can feel the urge before full dilation. Pushing against a cervix that is not fully dilated can cause problems, so your midwife will ask you to hang on!

Pics: Getty. Illustration: Sabrina Sahota

Read more:

• What does it mean when your baby's head is engaged?
• What happens when you lose your mucus plug?
• Do I need to remove my pubic hair before I give birth?

"Engagement simply means your baby's head (or bottom, in some cases) has moved down into your pelvis in preparation for birth," says Midwife Pip, a practising NHS midwife and expert antenatal and postnatal educator. "Other, more outdated, terms for engagement that you might still hear are 'lightening' or 'dropping'."

Here, with the expert help of Midwife Pip, we explain more about when in your pregnancy your baby's head will engage, what that means for the start of your labour – and what exactly those measurements in fifths mean…

When should I expect my baby’s head to engage?

This can vary quite a lot between different women and tends to depend quite a lot on whether this is your first baby or not.

First babies tend to engage early: any time in your 3rd trimester (which starts at 28 weeks) and most likely at about 36 weeks. Second or subsequent babies tend to engage later, much nearer to your delivery date or sometimes not until labour actually starts.

"If you've had a baby before," says Midwife Pip, "your womb is a little looser and this can mean that this baby's head doesn't engage until you are actually in labour, when the power of your contractions helps to push your baby’s head deeper into your pelvis."

So, engagement is not an exact science.

If my baby's head is engaged, am I about to go into labour?

"No, it's absolutely not an indication that your labour is about to begin," says Midwife Pip.

"Your baby's head can be engaged for weeks before labour starts. In fact, your baby may even move in and out of your pelvis – engage and then unengage – as you near your due date.

"That said, when your baby's head is engaged, it does put pressure on your cervix, which may cause it to soften and start to open in readiness for labour. So it is probably true to say that, once your baby's head is engaged, you're more likely to go into labour sooner than later."

How can I tell if my baby’s head is engaged? What does it feel like?

You'll probably feel it physically – as a feeling that your baby has dropped down inside your body.

In your 3rd trimester, your fast-growing baby is competing for space with your lungs and stomach, so you can start to have a feeling of being 'full up' all the time and you even may find it more difficult than usual to breathe deeply. This can all change once your baby is engaged.

"Once your baby’s head is well down and engaged," says midwife Pip, "you may feel freer around your chest and stomach and find it easier to breathe. You may also feel heavier in your pelvis – there may even be some pressure there, making the idea of a long walk less appealing and upping the frequency of your trips to the loo."

You may also feel shooting pains deep in your pelvis or crotch area as your baby engages, too. These pains can come and go and are often referred to a 'lightning pains' (because they zing down like lightning). All of which is very confusing, as engagement itself is often called 'lightening', which sounds the same but actually refers to a feeling of lighter, freer feeling in your chest as your baby drops down.

Once your baby's head is engaged, you – and others – may also be easily able to see that your bump has dropped and looks to be sitting lower on your body.

Your midwife will also be able to feel for engagement of your baby when she palpates your tummy at your routine antenatal appointments.

"It is important to say, at this point, though," says Midwife Pip, "that – as with almost every other aspect of pregnancy – this lightening and dropping is very common but may not be experienced by everyone."

What does my midwife mean by 4/5 or 3/5 or 2/5 engaged?

Midwives have a measurement system (illustrated above0 to record how deeply your baby's head has descended into in your pelvis.

This measurement system works in fifths, which is why you might hear or see (in your antenatal notes), measurements such as 4/5 or 3/5 or 2/5 engaged.

Here’s what those measurements mean:

• 5/5. Your baby's head has not yet engaged. It is sitting above the brim of your pelvis (the 'hole' between the 2 connected hip parts) and your midwife can still feel all of your baby's head in your tummy still.
• 4/5. Your baby's head is just beginning to enter into your pelvis, but only the very top or back of the head (1/5th) of it. The rest (4/5) can be felt in your tummy by your midwife.
• 3/5. At this point, the widest part of your baby's head has moved into your pelvic brim.
• 2/5. More of the front part of your baby's head has passed over your pelvic brim.
• 1/5. Most (4/5) of your baby's head is in your pelvis. This is the most position of most babies' heads in labour.
• 0/5. Your baby is now entirely in your pelvis and is being born. Their head will be visible in your vagina.

"The phrase 2/5 or 3/5 engaged simply records your baby's progress and descent into your pelvis," says Midwife Pip. "Some midwives may record it as 2/5 or 3/5 'palpable': palpable just means that the baby's head can be felt on physical examination of your abdomen.

"You’re unlikely to hear or see measurements below 2/5 palpable before your labour has started."

What can I do to make my baby’s head engage?

Honestly? Nothing much. Your baby will engage when they’re good and ready.

That said, as you can see from 3 factors that can affect when your baby's head engages, above, babies in a posterior postion (their spine to your spine) tend to engage later than babies in an anterior position (their spine to your bump).

“This is because,” says Midwife Pip, “an anterior position better allows your baby to curl up comfortably and tuck their head which, in turn, facilitates engagement.

To encourage your baby to get into this anterior position, it is a good idea to be active and try some exercise that can help gravity rotate your baby. These include...

• Walking
• Swimming
• Yoga, squats or lunges
• Getting down on all fours
• Sitting on the floor with your feet together and your knees apart
• Kneeling and leaning forward

"And try to avoid reclining back on a soft sofa or slouching in chairs or car seats," adds Midwife Pip.

Once my baby’s head is engaged, how long before I go into labour?

So, we already know that just because the baby’s head is engaged, it doesn't mean that you will definitely go into labour soon. But when will labour start?

"Unfortunately, nobody can answer that,” says Midwife Pip. "Some babies like to confuse us by popping out and repositioning themselves. So just try to relax and wait for your labour – and your baby – to take its course."

Kate, who is quoted above, describing what it felt like when her baby's head engaged, is a member of our MadeForMums Community

Pic: Getty Images. Illustration: Jordan Edmonds-Moore

Read more:

• How your pregnancy bump drops when your baby's head is engaged – in pictures
• Signs that labour is near
• Will raspberry leaf tea help me go into labour?

Tested by:

Cat tested the Obi TENS Plus at home, ahead of expecting her first baby.

How did you use the Obi TENS Plus?

I had a home birth and used the Obi TENS Plus through the whole labour. The only other pain relief I had was two paracetamol. However, I was lucky to have a very short labour and had I been in hospital, I would definitely have asked for additional pain relief.

How does it work?

TENS machines work by releasing electric impulses through pads attached to your back to help reduce the pain of contractions.

The Obi TENS Plus reduces pain during labour, but obviously doesn’t get rid of it altogether.

I found knowing that I could press a button to lessen the pain helped me psychologically to cope better with it.

The benefit of the machine may be as much in the mind as in the body – but every little helps!

Is the Obi TENS Plus easy to use?

This machine is really simple to use, which is vital during labour, as I found the pain of the contractions meant too much thought wasn’t possible.

My husband hadn’t looked at the machine before I went into labour, and yet he was able to figure out how to assemble it and attach it to me fairly quickly despite the stress of the situation.

It’s tricky to place the pads on your own back, so you do need someone else to do that for you.

What else does it do?

The Obi TENS Plus is great because it also times the gaps between contractions. This is useful during early labour and can give you a guide as to when you should go to hospital, if that’s where you plan to deliver.

Having something to focus the mind on, other than the pain, is also a useful way of coping, and I found myself riveted by the numbers on the display when my breathing techniques went out of the window!

It would be handy if it timed the length of contractions, too.

Who would you recommend it for?

If you are keen to use minimal drugs during labour, or are planning a home birth, I’d recommend this TENS machine.

You shouldn’t expect it to magic all of the pain away, but it is a useful way of distracting yourself from the different sensations.

Is it value for money?

The Obi TENS Plus is affordable and priced very similarly to other maternity-specific TENS machines like TensCare MamaTENS Digital (£59.99 on Amazon). It can also be used to relieve pains such as period pain and post-Caesarean aches, so you may get future use out of it.

The sticky pads can be used several times (by the same person) and you can also buy replacements.

Do you need to buy anything else?

Everything you need to use the Obi TENS Plus is provided in the box, including batteries. You can buy extra pads if someone else wanted to use it.

What does the Obi TENS Plus look like?

The Obi is smaller than a smart phone, neat and discreet and has a cord so you can hang it around your neck, which is useful if you’re still mobile during the early stages of labour.

Where can I buy the Obi TENS Plus?

It is available from Babycare TENS and Amazon.

MadeForMums verdict

If you’re keen to use minimal drugs during labour, then the Obi TENS Plus is definitely worth getting. It’s not expensive, so if it doesn’t work for you, then you haven’t lost much. And when you’re in labour, you’ll be grateful for anything that helps with the pain, even if it just distracts you from it.

<bRead more...

• TENS Machine – can it help relieve labour pains?
• Could hypnobirthing help ease your labour pains?
• 17 early signs that labour is near