Birth

Follow the links below to find information about the process of giving birth, including the stages of labour.

For specific information on related topics, such as pregnancy, birth complications, birthing options, pain relief, caesareans, babies and birth defects, follow the links to the HealthInsite topic pages below.

Updated June 2009

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Related HealthInsite Topics
Babies
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on health issues such as breastfeeding, immunisation, sleeping problems, weight gain and health checks.
Birth Complications
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on potential complications in birth.
Birth Defects
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about birth defects, including congenital heart defects, spina bifida, cleft lip and palate and various syndromes.
Birthing Options
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about midwifery, birthing centres, homebirths and other options for giving birth.
Caesarean Section
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on giving birth by caesarean section.
Genetic Diseases and Disorders
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about genetic diseases and disorders, including genetic screening, Cystic Fibrosis, Huntington´s Disease and Tourette Syndrome and colour blindness.
Multiple Births
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about multiple births.
Pain Relief During Labour
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about the various methods of pain relief available during labour.
Pregnancy
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on pregnancy and the health of pregnant women.
Neonatal Diseases and Defects
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to resources about neonatal diseases and defects, including birth defects, diseases of newborn infants, foetal diseases and genetic diseases and disorders.
40 Resources Found
Results 1 to 20 displayed.
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Title:   Streptococcal infection - group B
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Group B streptococcal bacteria can cause a wide range of illnesses. One to four out of every 1,000 newborns contract group B streptococcal infection (GBS) from their mothers during childbirth. Life-threatening complications include blood poisoning, meningitis and pneumonia. A pregnant woman with GBS can be easily treated with intravenous antibiotics.
Date:   Jul 2009
Title:   Herpes transmission - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Find out how is herpes is transmitted, including passing the virus to partners and herpes in pregnancy.
Date:   Jun 2009
Title:   Fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) for fetal monitoring during labour
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Electronic heart monitoring may be suggested if doctors think the baby is not getting enough oxygen during labour. Two methods may be used. CTG measures the baby's heart rate. ECG measures the heart's electrical activity and the pattern of the heart bea...
Date:   Apr 2009
Title:   Maternal positions and mobility during first stage labour
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Women in the developed world and in health facilities in low-income countries usually lie in bed during the first stage of labour. Elsewhere, women progress through this first stage while upright, either standing, sitting, kneeling or walking around, al...
Date:   Dec 2008
Title:   Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   The length of time women spend in hospital after childbirth has fallen dramatically in many countries over the past 30 years. This review of trials compared the policy of early discharge after childbirth with standard length of stay and care at the time...
Date:   Dec 2008
Title:   Pregnancy - stages of labour
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Labour is divided into three stages - the dilation of the cervix, the delivery of the baby, and the delivery of the placenta. Labour typically takes between seven and 24 hours. Braxton-Hicks contractions or false contractions are sometimes mistaken for labour. Signs of labour may include period-like cramps, backache, diarrhoea, a small bloodstained discharge as the mucus plug drops out (a show) and a gush or trickle of fluid as your waters break.
Date:   Sep 2008
Title:   Births in Victoria 2003-2004
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Births in Victoria are recorded by the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection Unit (VPDCU), which maintains a database on perinatal (birth) outcomes and birth defects. The Commonwealth government collates data from all states on births.
Date:   Aug 2008
Title:   Antibiotic prophylaxis for operative vaginal delivery
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   There is not enough evidence to support the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for operative vaginal delivery....
Date:   Aug 2008
Title:   Treatments for secondary postpartum haemorrhage
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   No randomised controlled trials to inform the management of women with secondary postpartum haemorrhage...
Date:   Jan 2008
Title:   Acupuncture for induction of labour
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   There is insufficient evidence describing the efficacy of acupuncture to induce labour...
Date:   Jan 2008
Title:   Routine perineal shaving on admission in labour
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Women may have their pubic hairs shaved with a razor (perineal shaving) when they are admitted to hospital to give childbirth. This is done in the belief that shaving reduces the risk of infection if the perineum tears or a episiotomy is performed and t...
Date:   Jan 2008
Title:   Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping of term infants on maternal and neonatal outcomes
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   At the time of birth, the infant is still attached to the mother via the umbilical cord, which is part of the placenta. The infant is usually separated from the placenta by clamping the cord. The timing of this clamping is one part of the third stage of...
Date:   Dec 2007
Title:   Intracervical prostaglandins for induction of labour
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Prostaglandins inserted into the cervix are effective in starting labour, but are inferior to vaginal administration....
Date:   Nov 2007
Title:   Immediate post-partum insertion of intrauterine devices
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Inserting an intrauterine device (IUD) right after childbirth can be good for many reasons. The woman is not pregnant and may be thinking about birth control. The time and place are convenient for the woman. However, the IUD might be more likely to come...
Date:   Nov 2007
Title:   Vaginal chlorhexidine during labour to prevent early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal infection
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Not enough evidence to show that washing the vagina with chlorhexidine during labour reduces group B streptococcal infections in babies....
Date:   Sep 2007
Title:   Fundal pressure versus controlled cord traction as part of the active management of the third stage of labour
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   The third stage of labour is the period from the birth of the baby until delivery of the placenta. There are two basic interventions to help to deliver the placenta as part of the active management of the third stage of labour: fundal pressure or contro...
Date:   Jul 2007
Title:   Anti-D administration after childbirth for preventing Rhesus alloimmunisation
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Mothers and babies may have incompatible blood characteristics (such as Rhesus positive babies and Rhesus negative mothers). After the birth of a Rhesus positive infant, Rhesus negative women are given an injection of anti-D, which aims to prevent the w...
Date:   Jun 2007
Title:   Individual or group antenatal education for childbirth or parenthood, or both
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Antenatal education aims to help prospective parents prepare for childbirth and parenthood. Prospective parents often look to antenatal education to provide important information on issues such as decision making about and during labour, skills for labo...
Date:   May 2007
Title:   Amniotomy alone for induction of labour
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Sometimes it is advisable to get labour started (induction) because of concerns about either the pregnant woman or her unborn baby. Amniotomy has been used as either the only method of inducing labour if the membranes can be reached, or used with drugs ...
Date:   Jan 2007
Title:   Australia's mothers and babies 2004
Publisher:   Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Description:   The report presents demographic, pregnancy and childbirth factors of women who gave birth in 2004 and the characteristics and outcomes of their babies.
Date:   Dec 2006
Results 1 to 20 displayed.
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