Birthing Options: Essential Baby

Ari arrived swiftly on the floor of his parent's bedroom.

First baby born through ACT's publicly funded home birth trial

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Jamie Hare holding a picture of his partner Linda who died in 2010.

Family compensated over mother's fatal haemorrhage

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A C-section and the shame of a thwarted birth plan

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male midwife

The lowdown on male midwives

How would you feel about having a male midwife assist your baby's birth? For a growing number of mums, the idea is a reality - and the experts all agree that it's something that should be encouraged.

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Water birth

Water birth: the basics

With proper medical attention, water birth is a legitimate and safe way for women to give birth and can help manage pain in labour.

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Choosing a hospital

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Hospital Suite Deal

Private hospital care

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Justine Davies

Public or Private Hospital for the birth: WDYT?

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Public hospital care

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Natural breech birth is low risk for babies: study

The risks of a baby dying or suffering complications during a natural breech birth are "very small", experts say.

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Gauze seeding: the bacteria-breeding birth trend

A number of women having caesarean deliveries are now taking steps to give their baby a better 'microbiome' start in life.

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In praise of midwives

These women will always have space in my heart. Not just because they helped bring my children 'earth side', but because of the way that they cared for me during the vulnerability of my labours.

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Delay clamping babies' umbilical cords for better health and development

There is no dispute that we need to clamp and cut the umbilical cord, but there remains controversy over how soon after birth this should occur.

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lotus birth

I had a lotus birth and I loved it

Lotus birthing is not all that common, but for a number of women it feels like the most natural thing to do.

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Thinking about using gas (nitrous oxide) in labour? Learn how to get the most from it first.

How to use gas effectively in labour

Many women in labour don't use gas effectively and suffer more side effects than benefits. Here's how to get the most out of this pain relief option.

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Sarah and her daughter immediately after her home birth.

Five posterior babies, four home births

I was on a high. I'd done it all by myself with no help from anyone.

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Leilani

Photographer captures 'unexpected beauty' of birth

If there is one thing Leilani Rogers knows about childbirth, it is that no two deliveries are ever the same.

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World Health Organization issues c-section warning

Women should only give birth by caesarean section if it is medically necessary, the World Health Organization has warned.

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Sarah with her partner and second baby after her home birth.

I had a home birth, and I'm not stupid - or brave

While most people might think home-birthers are just a bunch of hippies, I was not blase about my son's birth. I was informed and prepared for it.

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"We need to talk about what happens when women's needs in pregnancy and birth are not respected."

We need to stop using this word when we talk about childbirth

Is it shaming to point out that women are often being let down in birth?

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