Straightforward birth means giving birth vaginally, without any procedures or interventions. What are the advantages and what can you do to encourage a straightforward birth?

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Pregnant woman on birthing ball
Vaginal birth
Woman and new born baby
Caesarean birth
Newborn baby
Assisted or complicated birth
Pregnant woman having a water birth
Water birth

Different types of birth articles

Showing 30 articles
pregnant woman on phone
The early signs of labour
Caesarean recovery
Caesarean birth: recovery and practicalities
Deepa and Leela birth
Water births and labouring in water: questions answered
Water birth
Planning for a water birth: 6 top tips
woman in water birth
How to labour in water or have a water birth
Breech babies
Breech babies: what you need to know
pregnant woman looking at bump with comforting hand
Preparation for multiple births
Mother and baby after birth
What is a vaginal birth?
caesarean birth
What is a caesarean birth?
woman in labour
Pain relief in labour
pregnant woman thinking
Hormones in labour: oxytocin and the others – how they work
Parents getting ready to have a baby
Preparing for a vaginal birth
woman supported in labour
First stage of labour: signs, coping and when to go to hospital
woman in water birth
Second stage of labour: how and when to push
Baby caesarean scar
Birth choices after a caesarean section
c-section scar
Top tips for recovery after a caesarean birth
csection birth
Having a caesarean: what to expect
Repeat caesarean
Planning a repeat caesarean birth
Pain relief
Birth centre: what pain relief can I have in labour?
VBAC
Vaginal birth after a caesarean
Labour pain relief: TENS machine
Labour pain relief: TENS machine
Labour pain relief: Entonox (gas and air)
Labour pain relief: Gas and air (Entonox)
Labour pain relief: sterile water injections
Labour pain relief: sterile water injections
Labour pain relief: birthing ball
Labour pain relief: remifentanil
Labour pain relief: opioids – pethidine and diamorphine
Labour pain relief: intramuscular opioids – pethidine and diamorphine
Labour pain relief: epidurals and combined spinal epidurals
Labour pain relief: epidurals and combined spinal epidurals
Premature baby
Premature babies: what parents need to know
ventouse or forceps delivery
Assisted birth: ventouse or forceps delivery
after birth
Birth options after a caesarean: VBAC or ERCS?
newborn baby
Third stage of labour: delivering placenta and cord clamping