Induction is most often used if your baby is overdue or if your doctor feels that your health or your baby's health are at risk. Your placenta starts to decrease in efficiency after about 41 weeks and may compromise your baby's health by not delivering enough oxygen and food.

The donation of your baby's blood from the umbilical cord and placenta may mean saving the life of someone suffering from leukaemia, lymphoma, and even certain tumours. Researchers have learned that transplanting this blood that is high in stem cells to a sufferer of these diseases provides the best chance for a cure.

According to the medical textbooks, labour has three distinct stages:

The first stage of labour involves the full dilation – or opening – of the cervix, the muscle between the womb and the birth canal

In the second stage of labour (delivery), the baby is pushed out of the womb, through the cervix and birth canal, and is born

In the third stage the placenta is delivered

The first stage of labour is usually the longest part of the birthing process by far. With your first child, labour is generally longer than your second and subsequent births, with an 'average' labour for first-time mothers around 12-14 hours, although anything from 2-20 hours is pretty normal.

Homebirth midwives are what are known as primary care providers. This means they are the principal healthcare professional responsible for providing healthcare to women and their babies during pregnancy, birth and following birth.

Preparing a plan for your labour and delivery in advance allows you to think through your alternatives with a clear and rational mind. Take the time to discuss the issues with your partner, and if possible your doctor and midwives before you make your plan.

As the time to deliver your baby approaches, there are lots of important decisions you'll be faced with. You can make some of the decisions about what your baby needs in advance, while others may not go according to plan. But it's a good idea to take time to think about some of these things and talk them over with your partner.

Try to have your bag's packed by around week 36 of your pregnancy. Knowing you've got everything you need for your baby's birth will make you feel more relaxed. If you take something out before you leave for the hospital, stick a note to the top of your bag to remind you or your partner that it is missing. Check with your hospital or birthing centre to see what they have available for your use while in labour.

A caesarean is an operation to allow a baby to be born through its mother's abdominal wall, instead of through the vagina. It's usually done with an epidural anaesthetic so the mother is awake during the surgery and can usually see her baby within moments of birth and cuddle him or soon after.

Every woman is different when it comes to caesarean recovery, depending on the circumstances of the caesarean. If you've had your heart set on a vaginal birth, possibly a natural one at home or a birthing centre, then a caesarean may leave you feeling very upset, cheated and disappointed.

Talking to your partner and discussing what both of your expectations are for when your baby comes home will help to relieve some of the stress you may experience. You may find that your partner has a different idea of his role than you do. He may see himself as the breadwinner and not responsible for anything around the house, although this is quite an old-fashioned view of fatherhood.

A caesarean is defined as a surgical procedure, in which incisions are made through a mother's abdomen and womb to deliver one or more babies. It is essentially an alternative to natural birth. An elective is a medically unnecessary caesarean section, where the caesarean section (CS, or c-section) is requested by the pregnant patient or her doctor.

When couples first find out they are expecting twins, or Higher Order Multiples (HOM), their initial feelings can be overwhelming. Concerns about how they will manage, money worries, and general anxiety over housing and space can flood their minds. It can really help them to know they are not alone and that many other couples have, and are, experiencing exactly the same rollercoaster of emotions.

After birth, your bladder may still be recovering from the weight of your baby. Rest assured that you are not alone, as 1 in 3 women who have had children will experience some form of bladder weakness.

For women there are many adjustments to be made once their baby is born. There are the challenges associated with coping with a new baby and sleep deprivation. The body is also adjusting to and recovering from 9 months of rapid expansion. One of the factors women have to cope with is postnatal bleeding, which can often be a source of great concern.

Taking the first step is often the hardest. Your GP or local child health nurse will be a great starting point.

Most couples start having sex again by 3 months after the birth, but at the end of the first year, the majority (60%) report they're less active than they used to be. A loss of desire is common in both sexes, especially women.

Not so long ago, if you were planning a water birth, chances are doctors, colleagues and even family members would have smirked and scoffed at the idea. But thanks to numerous formal studies proving its benefits for both mother and baby, it is no longer regarded as 'alternative'. These days, a labouring woman immersed in a warm pool surrounded by scented frangipani candles is just as likely to be an inner city accountant as a yoga teacher.