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

Contains:

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

Family compensated over mother's fatal haemorrhage

Contains:

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

Contains:

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.

Contains:

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.

Contains:

Choosing a hospital

Contains:

Private hospital care

Contains:

Public or Private Hospital for the birth: WDYT?

Contains:

Public hospital care

Contains:

Taking a look at birth centre care

Deciding where to have your first baby is a personal, and often confusing, decision.

Contains:

The case for inducing at 37 weeks

While we often think of pregnancy as a 40 week affair, experts agree that 37 weeks is actually “full term". So is there an argument for inducing all births at 37 weeks?

Contains:

It's time to stop the home birth stigma

It's not healthy or helpful for expectant mothers.

Contains:

Gerri Wolfe delivered her twins herself via caesarean section at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital.

Mum assists in own caesarean surgery

A mum who partly delivered her own twins during a caesarean has encouraged other women to take control of their birthing experience.

Contains:

Dads in the delivery room apparently make birth more painful: study

He might think he is being helpful as he holds your hand while you are in the throes of labour, but he could actually be making the pain far worse.

Contains:

Natural pain relief in the early stages of labour

While managing labour pains on your own can be daunting, there are a number of natural pain relief options to help you cope until you are admitted to hospital.