Labour and birth checklist

Labour and birth checklist

It’s worth organising yourself early and making some plans for the birth and afterwards; the more you can get organised now, the easier it will be. 

Before the birth:

  • Keep emergency contact numbers by the telephone including: your doctor, a taxi service, the hospital labour ward and your midwife.
  • Make sure you have plenty of easy food in the house, like baked beans, cans of soup, and frozen fish to save you cooking when you’re back home with the baby. After childbirth you will need to rebuild your energies with nutritious food.
  • Check that you have all the things you are likely to need for the birth.

For the birth: 

  • Make sure you can contact your partner at all times. 
  • Have a reserve labour partner ready, just in case your partner (or mum, or sister) is miles away. 
  • Plan how you will get to hospital; if by car, get to know the route and car parks. 
  • If you need to ask a friend or relative for a lift, make sure you know how to contact them.

After the birth:

  • Have some clothes for your baby to wear home.
  • If coming home by car, make sure you have a properly fitted baby car seat ready. 
  • After giving birth you will want loose and comfortable clothes, make sure these are ready for you to wear home. 
  • Have coins or phonecards and a list of phone numbers to ring friends and family from the hospital. 

Bounty Organiser

You can keep track of your pregnancy milestones with our free online calendar. It lets you enter your baby’s due date which automatically populates the calendar with need-to-know dates such as when to give your MAT B1 form to your employer, the earliest date you can start maternity leave, and when to apply for free prescriptions and dental treatment, the Health in Pregnancy Grant and Child Benefit. You can add in your midwife appointments, scan dates and antenatal classes and select to receive email reminders for them a month, a week or a day before. Plus, print off our useful checklists which cover everything from what to pack in your hospital bag to breastfeeding essentials.

Comments

anyone else think that using

Submitted by tarikalev on Thu, 03/05/2012 - 22:08.

anyone else think that using the same urine bottle for a sample everytime you go to a midwife appointment is disgusting and wrong! even if your urine is clear :s

braxton hicks

Submitted by Masivanda on Thu, 18/08/2011 - 22:52.

I can't too Tanatswa5 i am so excited only god knows what is in my head every minute. My son is 15 my daughter 12 and havinga girl. How long should the Braxton Hicks, I mean the false labour they seem to be regular now and I get worried sometimes that it might be the real thing coz I had forgotten about it already.

32 weeks

Submitted by Tanatswa5 on Tue, 12/07/2011 - 20:25.

I can not wait to see my baby, my first born is 15 years imagine I can't remember what is required for labour preparations. I want to thank Bounty for their fruitfull news letters. I will be having an opperation.

Hi, im 38 weeks and im having

Submitted by bustyblue36c on Mon, 02/05/2011 - 19:47.
Hi, im 38 weeks and im having my first and its a little boy. I am 18 in october and my partner is 25 in december. We have been together for about 2 nearly 3 years and have finally set up home and decided to plan our first. When i found out i was pregnant it was the most amazing thing everr. Now i just cant wait to meet our little boy. I have got everything ready for when its time for his apperance but even though im ready im really nervous, but i think thats down to the fact that everyone is telling me how its going to be. It really doesnt help when they go on about how much its going to hurt ... Eitherr way he's got to come out some time lol :) I cant wait to meet my little boy Tristan-Lee Clifford Bell. I dont care how much agony i will be in i just want my baby lol :) Good luck to all the other mummies out there!! Hope everything goes well xx

Hi, I am 36 weeks too this

Submitted by Gemmasbuba on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 18:37.
Hi, I am 36 weeks too this week and it's also my first child. I am 28 and my partner and I tried for a baby for 3 months so were extremely excited when we found out we are pregnant. Although I am ready for the birth and can not wait to meet our son I have had concerns about the labour purely due to what other people say about it. I am planing on having a home water birth (hopefully) and Jezabe1's comment below has been very helpfull to me, reminding me to just relax and look forward to the most amazing experience of my life. Pain or no pain I want my baby. Thanks Gems xx Good luck to all the other mums and dads to be. I dont think Dads get much notice during this time in life and they should be included and thought of a lot more

Good luck with that!

Submitted by how123 on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 15:33.
Good luck with that!

General Pregnancy and labour

Submitted by Jezabe1 on Thu, 27/01/2011 - 11:37.
Hi, I'm 36 weeks this week with my first baby, very disorganised but really relaxed. I have been looking at hypnotherapy for the birth and am enjoying the whole process very much, I really think that being relaxed and enjoying the whole lot is really important. We are perfectly built to make babies but fear and worry blow little niggles out of proportion. Try to enjoy it all, even Labour!! There are some great books on changing your approach to pregnancy and labour, after all, it's been beaten into us since birth that it is painful and uncomfortable and a bit of a drag. 'Childbirth without fear' by Grantly Dick Read and 'Spiritual midwifery' explain how our society had made childbirth something to fear, when other 'non westernised' societies deal with it much better and have much less medical intervention. We're not ill and the vast majority of pregnancies and labour goes smoothly, but the calmer you are all the way through, the better. Your body will do the job in hand whether you like it or not. All the best to all the Mums and Mums to be!

bounty organiser

Submitted by angelpixxi on Wed, 22/12/2010 - 19:01.
The tip about the Bounty organiser would have very useful if this tip had been given about 14 weeks ago - 4 weeks before the birth it is a little late to start thinking about MATB1 forms, when to apply for free prescriptions and Health in Pregnancy grant. the idea is great but I'm going on maternity leave tomorrow and have already done all of the things the Bounty reminder would remind me of so it's much too late now...

Jubilee86, I'm a first time

Submitted by caspermatt on Wed, 22/12/2010 - 18:36.
Jubilee86, I'm a first time mum to, I'm 36 weeks tomorrow, I am such a control freak and so organised but this is one thing you just have to roll with, the only advise I can give is take each day as it comes because you never know how you will feel from day to day, look after yourself and eat well

im 28 weeks today and so fed

Submitted by megankenwright on Wed, 22/12/2010 - 15:25.
im 28 weeks today and so fed up iv had a show about a week ago and another a few days have had no pains jst uncomfatble.. anyone else havin trouble sleepin my heartburn is unreal i litterly swig the gaviscon through the bottle!! x

over due

Submitted by sleepyhead12 on Wed, 22/12/2010 - 00:31.
am over due and keep getting pain but no contraction am fed up

first time mummy

Submitted by Jubilee86 on Sun, 19/12/2010 - 12:14.
i just found out im pregnant first time mum, so scared advise would be great.

Hi all, i am 30 weeks with

Submitted by viktoriablue on Sat, 18/12/2010 - 11:30.
Hi all, i am 30 weeks with first baby my midwife has been ok seen same one couple of times very much in and out. I think your body can tell you if there is something wrong and when that happens thats the time to stand up and say something. My Step Dad is a GP and the whole medical profesion is designed to make money get patients in prescribe something (makes money for pharmacy's) send you on your way. Midwives are short staffed and have to fit aot of people in a short space of time. I believe they stated out caring and wanting what is best but the system has knocked it out of them "time is money".My friend had her 1st baby at 34 wks he is now 2 , 8 months ago lost a baby and now is pregnant again at 8 wks was spotting so gave her a scan, they told her she then forfited a 12 week scan and had to wait till 20 wks next appointment at 34 weeks crazy!! not at all looking out for the wellfare of the mother. Where as my niece (she has a bad attitude) has had 5 scans and she is 29 weeks been to midwife quite a few times. Those who shout loudest get seen! although i don't think a bad attitude is warrented! you are all strong women and the internet is a wonderful thing i found all my info that way keep myself clued up so not fussed about the midwife my husband is with me and thats all that matters, i know some don't have that so a friend or relative is good to have . On the day i don't think any of us will care who delivers our babies just as long as they arrive safely and hopefully quickly!! Get clued up and don't worry about the "professionals" they don't always know everything!! Take every hit in your stride stress is no good for you or your babies x

just want to wish you ladies

Submitted by krusty17 on Wed, 15/12/2010 - 16:14.
just want to wish you ladies luck with the labour, im nearly 18wks with my first so way behind you guys, havent stopped thinking about the birth though scary!!! ive seen a few different midwifes too. goodluck everyone :)

I'm 37wks + 2. not long now!

Submitted by Clairequest on Tue, 14/12/2010 - 18:20.
I'm 37wks + 2. not long now! :) I have the same problem being due over the xmas period. Was a bit confusing at first as had my 38 week appointment yesterday and have my 40 week one when i'm just over 38wks (next week). I was a bit concerned as it has been reassuring going to the midwife fortnightly at this late stage but then I thought that nothing will really change from now until he's born and if I feel unwell at all over xmas the advice I've been given is to call the hospital directly. Due on the 2nd Jan - have also made an appointment when they reopened on 4th just in case he's late. good luck everyone :)

I'm 36wks 4 days or "35wks 1

Submitted by superflea on Thu, 09/12/2010 - 18:47.
I'm 36wks 4 days or "35wks 1 day" i've been given two dates. which is really confusing. Bn told midwives will phone me 2 arrange next app. as they only operate on Mondays & how they have 2 weeks of holidays over festive season. Which means that my appointments should be christmas & New Year. bit worried now. Does anyone else have this problem? Also said babies heading right way down, can they still move from that at this time?

midwife mix up

Submitted by kezia20 on Wed, 01/12/2010 - 23:48.
i had my 38weeks midwife appoint yet again i see adifferent one this is my first pregnancy and feel abit like screaming coz they all say somthing different, e.g. this midwife told meim actually 37weeks when i am actually 38+6days abit confusing coz ive had my show an went to the hospital to make sure everything was fine. then i couldn't get a next appointment told me come back in 3weeks in which would make me 42week+6days! phoned antinetal in the hospital lady asked me wen da first day of last period wic was 5th march 10 wic makes me due 10th december so much stress i jus want her out i am 3/5cms engaged woo hooo at 38+6days pregnant.....

hi everyone,i am 39 weeks

Submitted by gabriela83 on Mon, 29/11/2010 - 12:05.
hi everyone,i am 39 weeks pregnant with my first baby.i have the same problem with the midwife,everytime a different one wich is a bit scary for someone with the first baby,but cannot complain to much because they been nice to me.now i am just waiting for the "big time" as my labour can start anytime.good luck everyone

hi everyone i am 27 weeks

Submitted by firstmum14 on Tue, 16/11/2010 - 16:41.
hi everyone i am 27 weeks pregnant with a little girl. she is my first and i have to say my midwife has been great she is the only one i have seen all the way through but the only time i didnt was wen she was on holiday. she has always answered my questions nd has never made me feel like i am bein a pain in the bum,well hope everything goes well for everyone x

Midwives and doctors

Submitted by Stefyjo on Thu, 11/11/2010 - 12:35.
Hi ladies, I agree the midwives system is like the lottery as u don't knw who u r goin 2 get on the day.I'm 36 wks and so far I've seen a different mdwfe everytime.I had a list of their names but i had to ask them if they were on that list as they did not introduce themselves. One told me that the list was old as all the listed mdwves had left. Still she did not tell me her name. I also agree that all they do is measuring and once they got that wrong,too and got me worried for nothing.Sometimes I want to ask questions but their attitude puts me off and I look for the answers online. I shouldn't be like that.

Midwives

Submitted by Alipuss on Thu, 11/11/2010 - 09:13.
This is my first baby and I am almost 36 weeks. I've had a really good pregnancy so far with no complaints (I have started catching lots of bugs the last month but nothing pregnancy related). Every time I have a midwife appointment it's usually someone different. I think all in I have seen about 5 so I'm not really sure which is 'my' midwife. Saying this, every single one of them has been lovely, answered all of my questions and been really friendly. The only thing I am concerned about is lots of friends who have given birth all say that as soon as the baby arrives, you are left alone and they are no longer interested. This is what scares me the most. When you are a new Mum, in pain, unsure of what to do, this is when you need them the most! I how these stories aren't true but we will see....... Good luck everyone xx

midwives and care

Submitted by MICH55555 on Tue, 09/11/2010 - 22:19.
hi ladies, this is my second baby and i am 34 weeks. i have to say its not just the midwives that i have had a problem with but also the consultants. i have to say i have been fobbed off with every problem that i have had during this pregnancy and even recomended for a home birth which is very unlikly as my first child was born at 36 wks and i have already been admitted once with this one for early labour!!! it seems that the care we recieve has got worse my eldest is only 2 and it has deff got worse since i had him!!!! I am now sitting at home waiting for labour to start again knowing that my baby is breach and no-one wants to discuss what the options are even though its highly likely that i could go into labour before she turns!!!

in hospital

Submitted by manchester1234 on Mon, 08/11/2010 - 21:41.
my waters have broke am in alot of pain

have to agree

Submitted by kmicallef on Wed, 03/11/2010 - 18:12.
hi am 34 weeks its my first pregnancy and am having twins, i've been really anxious though i see a midwife and a doctor every two weeks they're always different people and some of them are really quite rude they refuse to answer my questions saying that i should just go with the flow when i asked about a birth plan the doctor was outraged and said that they were pointless and i should leave it blank when i refused she told me that i would have no control over what happened and filled it out for me! when i asked who'll be present during labour they told me it could be anyone as i don't have anyone in particular, they forgot to book me in to antenatal classes when they said it had been done was told they dont do tours of ward and all they do every time i say am worried they ask if i intend to breastfeed and then say thats all that matters and i shouldn't worry. as a first time mum i've had such a horrible time i've spent most of my third trimester in tears, think the whole system needs to be reviewed.

Hi am 35 weeks plus and this

Submitted by shebally on Wed, 27/10/2010 - 13:17.
Hi am 35 weeks plus and this is my first one,am really schock that some expectants are going through alot of bad experiences with their midwives.am very blessed,my is so nice that she makes sure i get all the neccesary things and advice a pregnant lady needs to get.she has made me go on hospital tour,Aqua natal classes,and now she want to start with breastfeeding session and parent craft next .week she even came home on my first appointment.

I have to stick up for

Submitted by natsal03 on Mon, 25/10/2010 - 14:04.
I have to stick up for midwifes, it's really saddening that so many of you have had bad experiences. I lost a baby in the last trimester last year and my midwife was the only one who came to see me, my GP didn't bother. This time I'm 37 weeks pregnant and I've been diagnosed with GD and had uncontrollable itching, went to the GP and he ordered the wrong tests and didn't tell me I was diabetic until 3 months after the tests! My midwife has rang to check everythings ok and says if I need to see or speak to her just to ring, even though I see the consultant every 2 weeks. She wasn't there for the births of my other two children but the midwifes who were, were all brilliant. I think it does make a difference where you live as my first was in London and it felt like there was no continuity and everyone was in such a rush. i now live in a rural area. Hope you all have a better experience next time! x

hey guys sometimes the

Submitted by bubbley1234 on Wed, 20/10/2010 - 11:50.
hey guys sometimes the midwives you see for your check ups arent the ones you will have at the hospital or for your aftercare. i have a son and am pregnant again and i no from my previous experience that sometimes your midwives change n dont come the hospital with you like in other towns. Just think they are all looking out for you n your baby and will be keeping eachother up to date via your pregnancy book :) good luck every1 x x

.

Submitted by Barbiebeckie on Wed, 20/10/2010 - 11:48.
I'm 25 weeks pregnant with a girl and my bump isn't even big yet !!

you think you got it bad... i

Submitted by alamari89 on Tue, 19/10/2010 - 20:01.
you think you got it bad... i am 31 weeks now and i dont even know who my midwife is!! she never introduced herself to me i have seen atleast three or four different people at the hospital i dont know which is the midwife and which is the consultant. They dont do introductions or chit chat they just measure you up and send you on your way.

hi this is my 1st post! Im 27

Submitted by gracielou89 on Mon, 18/10/2010 - 19:42.
hi this is my 1st post! Im 27 weeks pregnant with my 2nd! Would just like 2 say not all midwife's r bad, mine is absolutly brilliant ive had the same 1 wit both pregnancies and i cant fault her she is so easy 2 talk 2 and always at the other end of the phone. Admitedly i didnt get on wit the 1st 1 i saw but all i done was ask if i could have some1 else.

Hi, i am 36 and 3 days

Submitted by hammybaby on Mon, 18/10/2010 - 19:16.
Hi, i am 36 and 3 days pregnant:D my bump is really big! and find it hard sleeping at night :( my midwife also thinks i may go early :D this is my first baby and i am 19 bit scared :D i am waiting on my income support claim coming through too they take so long!! been waiting weeks as i had to leave my college course:( anybody else had that problem ? anyways cant wait until this is over and meet my beautiful baby :D xx

Ive seen a different midwife

Submitted by AshieBashies on Mon, 18/10/2010 - 17:02.
Ive seen a different midwife every time I go to the Clinic so I've now seen about 5 midwifes, so am a little confused as to who is my actual midwife, but they all seem quite nice except one and knowing my luck that will be the one who is supposed to be my midwife.

All these comments made me

Submitted by vikilucas on Mon, 18/10/2010 - 16:52.
All these comments made me very sad! My Mum has just retired from Midwifery and would be so disappointed to read that you have had these experiences. From years of growing up with a MW as a Mum I can PROMISE you not all MWs are like yours - not a week went by without my Mum getting cards and flowers from people so grateful for her help. And even now, if we go out in town it is rare that she doesn't get stopped by an ex-patient who wants to say hello and give her an update or introduce her to the 15/10/6 year old she delivered many years ago. It is sad that we can't all have this as an experience. My MW is 'mediocre' - never remembmers details of my high-risk condition and has several times asked me if I have told her about it before! Ho hum. At least Mum is on the end of a phone!

My Midwife

Submitted by dee290978 on Mon, 18/10/2010 - 11:51.
Ive only seen my MW twice, i tend to see the consultant every 2 weeks!!! BUT my midwife is aload of crap......everytime we see her at the hospital, she blanks us completley; probably cos she doesent know who we are mind you lol. I dont like her and im glad i dont have to see her, also i hope she,s NOT the one who delivers our baby!!!

Hi, this is my first post,

Submitted by whisperlucy on Wed, 13/10/2010 - 13:35.
Hi, this is my first post, but felt that midwifes need some support. I too have only seen the midwife a handful of times, and I am now at 36 weeks, however so long as each time I am healthy and i feel great I dont feel that I need to see her more often. If i did want to I could easily book extra appointments... If you dont book extra appointments how can you expect the midwife to tell you to come in more often than necessary?

show

Submitted by Amina1982 on Mon, 11/10/2010 - 11:17.
hi. i am 36 weeks today on 3rd baby. with my first i got show and went into labour about an hour later. but it is different for everyone, you may not get a show again, i don't think i did with my second and her labour was so quick and easy, 3 hours start to finish! main thing is don't worry everyone one is different. take care!

midwife

Submitted by sumy25 on Tue, 28/09/2010 - 00:19.
hiya, i'm 35 weeks pregnant... i've seen my midwife a couple of times, i feel that theres no point, as shes not helpfull at all ....feel very uncomfortable asking her anything...i thought i was the only one feeling this way but its obvious many of us are going through the same experience with our midwives

hi,im 32wks pregnant and ive

Submitted by jiffimelly on Thu, 23/09/2010 - 20:24.
hi,im 32wks pregnant and ive never met my midwife,this is my 3rd pregnancy and good job i know what to expect,

i totally agree with

Submitted by Heno88 on Tue, 21/09/2010 - 21:19.
i totally agree with Princessty....GP are the best option. i have only seen my midwife once and thats when i told her i was pregnant! my next appiontment with her is next week when am 37weeks! unbelievable! but hey i think am off better not seeing her, shes very crap...doesn't do anything.

hi,expectant mothers,i

Submitted by princessty on Wed, 15/09/2010 - 16:22.
hi,expectant mothers,i believe midwivies are not being considerate at all.am in my 36wks and ive met her 3times and there is nothing special in seeing ,the GP would have been the best option if someone really want any concern.the midwivies are geting highly paid 4 doing nothing.

labour

Submitted by traciwilliams on Fri, 10/09/2010 - 06:59.
how long after a show are you likely to go into labour? i didnt have a show with my first getting really anxious now.

My midwife is quite a spiky

Submitted by rhia118 on Wed, 08/09/2010 - 11:35.
My midwife is quite a spiky person.. I was unable to get any appointmenst to start with, so I found a local childrens cenre, the midwives there are friendly, warm and gentle and they actually looked at my birth notes and asked questions and seemed intrested and imformative.. My midwife at the doctors has not been bothered about my weight, i have not put on any, my veins, which have swollen up and she always jabs me really hard when measuring.. Also for some reason she gives me back my urine sample bottle to reuse next time, I always ask at reception for a new one.. I look forward to not seeing her after the birth..

Thank u ladies for all ur

Submitted by Sammybaby2010 on Wed, 08/09/2010 - 09:47.
Thank u ladies for all ur responses.It's good to know I'm not the only one disappointed with midewife-led care. Since my last post I have now had my c-section booked in and had a lovely consultant and midwife who talked me thro the whole procedure of elective cs and what to expect. At this meeting with the Head Midwife I discovered that I was not the first person to have such a negative experience with the said midwife! I've now got the name and address of her manager and I will be writing in a letter of complaint! I don't see why we as expectant mums should have to put up with such behaviour - we have enough to deal with!!! Good luck to all you ladies with the rest of ur pregnancy and wishing u all a safe birth..xx

hi there my midwife is a

Submitted by anjiniki on Sat, 04/09/2010 - 09:54.
hi there my midwife is a nighmare too,ive only seen her 3 times since my pregnancy and im 31 weeks nw,this is is my first baby and ud expect midwife to be a bit more concerning but noooooooooo shes either running later or not available,im in and out of surgery in 10mins,as my first pregancny it never leaves you with much faith in them,id rather ask family ir friends for advise,otherwise ill be waiting for weeks to speak to her.i still havent gone through things that need to be told to me like,tour of hopital,feeding,what type of pregnancy i want etc..midwifes are overpaiddd for doing nothing

Hi there, I had a midwife i

Submitted by mummimikki on Tue, 31/08/2010 - 01:15.
Hi there, I had a midwife i was unhappy with in my first pregnancy, at about 30 weeks she was so rude to me that on my way home i fainted and my husband had to come home to see if i needed to be checked out. When he heard what had happened and how distressed i was about the midwife he called up and got me a new midwife immediately! My new midwife was wonderful and lovely and when things went wrong during the birth they knew exactly what to do and now i am 30 weeks with my second baby i would not change midwives for anything! So change if you are not comfortable it is definately worth it especially for the birth and labour!

Hi ladies, I think this must

Submitted by CassieJules on Thu, 26/08/2010 - 17:16.
Hi ladies, I think this must be quite common. I've seen my midwife 3 times in my whole pregnancy, my 8 week booking in appointment and twice since. It wasn't until the last time that she actually seemed to note that she had met me before and she always seems quite 'matter of fact' too. All other times I have seen different midwives. I may have to have a c-section and I was refererred to an obstetrician early in my pregnancy too, who I have only met once! I have seen two registrars and a stand in doc and I only have a few weeks to go and still no reassurance or answer as to what's happening. I even called prior to my last appointment to check he would be there and it was him I would be seeing and when I got there he wasn't there. I haven't felt like I have had continuous care or contact and it does make you feel a little nervous, esp if your first!

1st baby

Submitted by zelian on Wed, 25/08/2010 - 13:25.
hello ladies, I am 36 weeks pregnant and had none of the above labour signs. Think ive had some tightening though across my stomach. Im worried my baby wont turn in time it still moves around quite alot, although since yesterday it has slowed down in movement, which also worries me. Good luck with your labours'!

Annoying Midwife!

Submitted by Sammybaby2010 on Mon, 16/08/2010 - 10:37.
This is my 2nd child and the midwife I have been assigned to is a horror...she is completely blaze, condescending, and very jaded!! I had heard that midwifes generally don't bother as much with women who are on their 2nd (3rd,etc) pregnancy and boy is it true! I ended up having an emergency c-section with my 1st child after complications so obviously I am quite anxious n nervous and I would have thought that midwifes are there to support you but not in this case!!!! All I keep hearing is that 'we've all been there before' in very tired voice Anyone else have similar experience??

hi ya im due in oct and i had

Submitted by amylan on Thu, 19/08/2010 - 17:23.
hi ya im due in oct and i had the same prob with my first she was 6 weeks early and i was booked in 4 csection so this one all new and im very nervous so hopefully they are gonna be nice ort other wise there will be a few words lol

Hi, I've never left a comment

Submitted by kyla1985 on Tue, 17/08/2010 - 18:27.
Hi, I've never left a comment on the site before but just to have a little moan about my midwife.... I've never actually met the woman who is supposed to be my midwife and I'm 33 weeks!! She has taken a temporary management position outside of the surgery I am registered with and I see a different midwife every time i go! I am a first time mum and just feel if I have any questions or worries I'm better off searching on the internet or asking friends/family!