HOW TO FEEL MORE IN CONTROL DURING LABOUR

While birth is unpredictable, there are steps women can take to feel more in control and listened to. First, find out about your own risk factors depending on any underlying health conditions or your ethnicity – for example, South Asian women are more likely to have birth injuries (it’s not entirely clear why, but they tend to be smaller and have large babies, so it could be down to anatomy) so elective C-sections may be worth them considering, advises Kim Thomas of the Birth Trauma Association.

Secondly, research the risks of different types of birth, from home births to using forceps to C-sections. ‘You want to be able to give informed consent to different modes of birth and the time to learn about them is during pregnancy, not if there is an emergency during labour,’ she says. ‘Think about what you would and wouldn’t be willing to accept.’

Be prepared for every eventuality. ‘Be aware of the things that might go wrong and know what questions you want to ask during labour,’ she says. ‘It’s also crucial to have a birth partner or doula with you who you trust to advocate for you and who understands your wishes before the birth. And finally, I’d look at the CQC reports for local maternity units and find one with a decent rating if you can. Don’t necessarily give birth in your nearest one.’

For support and information, visit: makebirthbetter.org; birthtraumaassociation.org; birthrights.org.uk