[1.01] This episode will:

• Help you to visualise your baby’s birth and what you should expect.
• Cover who is in the room for different types of births and what their role is.

[1.54] Brigid and Dr Pat start by talking about labouring at home, they outline some of the exceptions as to why someone may not labour at home. When you labour at home you can control who is there, Dr Pat and Brigid talk about planning who you want to be with you while you are labouring at home and their role.

[3.52] Dr Pat talks about what to do prior to and when you first arrive to the hospital during labour, who you should contact, how to enter the hospital and how to get to the maternity ward.

[4.58] Dr Pat and Brigid discuss who is in the labour and delivery room after you arrive at the hospital, your partner, a family member and independent midwife or doula that you may have arranged to come in with you and making sure that everyone has a role and is aware of what this is, you should plan who is going to come with you and their role prior to labour. You will also meet the midwife that has been allocated to you, they will be with you either until the baby comes or until their shift is over, if this occurs you will be allocated another midwife who will be with you until the baby is delivered.

[6.20] Brigid and Dr Pat discuss what to do if you don’t get along with your allocated midwife and Dr Pat talks about how midwives will always have you and your baby’s best interest in mind and have experience and training to make the right decisions.

[7.32] Dr Pat and Brigid talk about the differences between birthing in the public and private systems and when you will see an obstetrician. Some people in the public system may not see and obstetrician during their whole labour whereas everyone who received private obstetric care will see their obstetrician multiple times throughout the labour, to check progress, discuss any changes and make any necessary plans.

[8.46] Brigid and Dr Pat discuss what would occur if a person had an independent midwife come with them to the birth as well as also having the hospital midwife and the processes that are in place to ensure that in the cases where this occurs the labour can still run smoothly.

[10.04] Dr Pat talks about some of the non-medical people who may pop their head into the room while you are labouring, these people all should have a job, and they may work for the hospital.

[10.35] Dr Pat and Brigid talk about if you are birthing in a public hospital there may be student midwives as well as junior doctors or doctors in training who may also pop into your room, you can request that people in training are not present during your birth, however sometimes this is not always possible as they may be involved in your care.

[12.06] Dr Pat covers who is in the room when you are ready to push, and why in some cases there may be additional care providers in your room, Dr Pat also outlines the role that these additional care providers may have in your birth.

[14.55] Dr Pat talks about what would happen in the case of an uncomplicated assisted birth in a room in the labour ward and any of the additional care providers that maybe required as well as their role in your birth.

[15.16] Dr Pat outline who is in theatre and what the role of everyone in the room is if the assisted birth or a caesarean section needs to occur in theatre, what needs to happen for the assisted delivery to occur in theatre is also covered. Dr Pat also talks about a change in roles for midwives and nurses if the birth must occur in theatre.

[20.54] Brigid talks about the importance of identifying your midwife in theatre.

[21.18] Dr Pat talks about which of your support people can come into theatre with you, and how generally only 1 person can come into theatre with you, and how this should be your key support person and should be decided on prior to labour and in your birth plan.

[22.03] Dr Pat briefly covers the process that your support person undertakes prior to entering theatre.

[22.26] Brigid and Dr Pat discuss who is in the recovery room with you post a birth that occurred in theatre and what their role in your recovery is, Dr Pat also talks about the importance of keeping together the family unit post birth and how you are then able to try to start breastfeeding with the help of your midwife.

[24.44] Dr Pat and Brigid cover all the people who may come and visit you during your hospital stay post birth and the different checks and test you and your baby with have prior to your discharge from the hospital.

[27.11] Dr Pat and Brigid talk about planning when and who of your family and friends you want to visit you in the hospital and making sure that the room doesn’t feel too busy or overwhelming.

[28.27] Myth or fact- if you are induced, the pain in labour is worse?