There are different ways your labour progress will be monitored, including vaginal examinations. These are offered to check factors like how open the cervix is, see if the waters are broken, and to see if the baby is coping with labour. You can choose whether to have these examinations and can request a chaperone. How often vaginal examinations are offered will depend on each person and stage of labour. Your baby can be monitored intermittently or continuously to give a guide as to how they are coping with labour. Different methods of monitoring will be recommended in different situations, no way of monitoring is perfect .

There are interventions that may be recommended and offered to reduce particular risks, such as tears to the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus) or baby becoming distressed. Every vaginal birth has a risk of a more serious tear, there are ways we can try to reduce the risk of a serious tear. An episiotomy (a small cut made at the vaginal opening to assist birth) is never routine but can be used to prevent the risk of serious tear in certain situations. If an episiotomy is performed, local anaesthetic (a numbing agent) is injected into the area, and you will require stitches after birth. Interventions to speed birth can offered due to reasons associated with labour, the baby being distressed or at your request. There are two main ways of carrying out an instrumental vaginal birth: using forceps (like big metal spoons) or using a ventouse (like a suction cup). A caesarean birth may be offered if an instrumental birth is not possible, not achievable or you request it.

Labour is often straightforward, however carries the chance of a list of complications which can affect the mother and/or baby. These can be split into moderate to severe complications which are common and complications relating to bleeding. Any complication relating to you or baby can mean that changes to your care or more urgent interventions, such as an urgent birth, are recommended. Some complications require immediate interventions, for others, there is time to consider options. To try to identify issues before they become problems, we will monitor your vital signs (e.g. blood pressure, heart rate, how much you wee and drink) and your baby.