Induction of Labour, Interventions & Navigating Maternity Care Workshop

*coming soon!*

Induction of labour, interventions and Navigating Maternity Care Workshop

Induction, interventions, maternity triage & what actually happens at hospital

Pregnancy comes with plenty of information about growing your baby, but surprisingly little about what actually happens when you need maternity care.

When should you phone triage? What happens when you get there? When should you go into hospital in labour? What actually happens during an induction? And what are your options if you're offered something you weren't expecting?

This relaxed, practical workshop is led by an experienced midwife and is designed to take some of the mystery out of navigating maternity services.

Maternity Triage & Going Into Hospital

We'll talk through when and how to contact maternity triage, what happens if you're asked to come into hospital and what you can expect from common assessments.

We'll cover:

• When you should contact maternity triage
• What to expect when you phone
• What happens if you're asked to come into hospital
• Common assessments, observations and monitoring
• When to contact hospital during early labour
• What happens when you arrive in labour
• Understanding the different maternity areas and where you might be cared for
• Practical tips for preparing for a hospital visit or admission

Induction of Labour

Induction can feel particularly daunting when you don't know what to expect. We'll go through the process step-by-step, including why induction may be offered and the choices you may have along the way.

We'll cover:

• Why induction of labour might be offered
• Making an informed decision about induction
• What happens before your induction begins
• Cervical examinations and assessing your cervix
• Different methods of cervical ripening
• Breaking your waters
• The oxytocin hormone drip
• Monitoring during an induction
• Pain relief options for early stages of induction 
• How long induction can take
• What happens if things don't progress as expected
• What your birth partner can expect and how they can help

What happens if there's an emergency during my labour? 

Obstetric emergencies aren’t something we need to be frightened to talk about. In this workshop, we’ll briefly cover some of the emergencies that can occur during labour and birth; including postpartum haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, concerns about you or your baby that may mean birth needs to happen more quickly, and if your baby needs any resuscitation following birth.

We won’t focus on worst-case scenarios. Instead, we’ll look at what actually happens: how an emergency is recognised, why the emergency buzzer might be pressed, who may suddenly enter the room, what the team is doing, and why certain treatments, manoeuvres or an urgent birth may be recommended.

The aim isn’t to scare you, it’s to take away some of the mystery. If things change quickly during labour, understanding what’s happening around you can make a very clinical, busy situation feel a little less unfamiliar.

Your Choices & Making Decisions

Being offered an intervention doesn't mean you suddenly stop having choices.

Throughout the workshop we'll discuss consent and informed decision-making, including useful questions you can ask your maternity team and how to feel more involved in decisions about your care.

Ask the Midwife

There will be plenty of time for questions throughout the session. Nothing is too basic or embarrassing to ask and questions from both yourself and your birth partner are welcome. 

Who is this workshop for?

This session is suitable whether you're planning a vaginal or caesarean birth, whether you've already been offered an induction or simply want to understand how maternity services work before you need them.

You do not need to have an induction planned to attend.

Come away understanding what to expect, what your options are and how to navigate maternity care with a little more confidence.

Two hour workshop 

£35 per pregnant person + one birth partner can attend for free

Venue and date TBC