Common myths about giving birth

If you are pregnant, you’ll probably be told a lot of stories about labour and birth. While some of them might be useful, it’s important to remember that your experience will be unique to you.

You should always discuss anything you are unsure about with your doctor or midwife. This article looks at some of the common myths you might hear.

Are there alternative ways to bring on labour?

Things like nipple stimulation, drinking castor oil, walking, hypnosis and acupuncture, having sex or eating spicy food have sometimes been linked to bringing on labour. These methods are anecdotal and there is not enough evidence to support their effectiveness. You should always consult your doctor or midwife before trying natural methods of inducing labour.

Do babies stop moving just before you go into labour?

Babies’ movements do not increase or decrease just before labour. You should consistently feel your baby's movements right up until they are born and even during labour. Having something cold or hot to eat or drink won’t affect your baby’s movements.

If I've had a caesarean, can I later have a vaginal birth?

Many women will have the option of having a vaginal birth after a previous caesarean (VBAC). If you’d like to have a VBAC, it’s a good idea to discuss this with your healthcare team early in your pregnancy. This way, you will have enough time to understand your options and make a decision that is right for you.

The chances of a successful VBAC vary greatly, depending on your situation, including the reasons for your previous caesarean, and your health during this pregnancy.

Will having an epidural increases my chances of a caesarean?

There are risks and side effects associated with having an epidural to relieve the pain of labour. Epidurals may increase your chances of needing a vacuum or forceps birth, but epidurals don’t appear to make a caesarean more likely.

Will I instantly bond with my baby?

Not all women feel bonded to their baby straight away. Skin to skin contact (known as kangaroo care) between mum and baby soon after birth and ongoing in the first few weeks, can help the bonding process. It can take time to bond with your new baby, and you shouldn’t try to rush it or feel like you are doing anything wrong if this doesn’t come immediately.

Is childbirth is like what you see on TV?

Childbirth on TV and in movies is often very dramatic, suggesting that birth is risky and painful. It’s important to get accurate information about labour and birth from your maternity care provider.

Will I know when I'm in labour?

If you haven’t already had a baby, it can be difficult to know when your labour has started. For most healthy women, there is no need to go straight to hospital when labour starts. Ask your midwife or doctor for a number to call for advice if you think you might be in labour.

Do I have to go to a hospital labour ward to give birth?

Birth centres, which are usually attached to a hospital, and planned home births with registered midwives in attendance are both options for healthy, full-term mothers and babies. Hospital labour wards are the best option for women and babies with certain medical conditions, or those at a higher risk of experiencing problems during birth.

Whichever you choose, make sure you trust your care provider, and be aware that the birth might happen somewhere other than where you planned. Some women plan to give birth in hospital but give birth at home. Some women plan to give birth at home or in a birth centre and need to go to a labour ward.

Do good hips or having a small baby mean I will have an easier birth?

You may have heard the expression ‘good childbearing hips’. In fact, the size of your hips won’t tell you much about how easy or hard your birth is likely to be.

A woman’s pelvis is not a solid bone. It is made up of ligaments and several bones that are designed to move and loosen as you give birth. Your baby’s skull bones are also not fused together yet, which allows for them to fit into and move through the birth canal. There is a condition, however, known as 'cephalopelvic disproportion', in which a baby’s head does not fit through the mother’s internal pelvis. Although this is not routinely screened for during pregnancy anymore.

It’s also not true that the size of your baby will make birth more or less painful, but the position you are in can make a big difference. Some women find that squatting or being on all fours can be more comfortable than lying down. The position of your baby as they move through the birth canal can also affect how the labour will progress.