Every baby and every birth is different. There is no ‘right way’ to have a baby, but there are lots of decisions to make depending on your health, your preferences and your baby’s health. The Kent & Medway maternity teams are here to support you and your midwife can help talk things through. 

The more information you have about birth, the more you can feel in control as things unfold. Overall, this increases your chance of having the best birth for you.

This section gives information on the different ways babies are born, some with and some without any medical intervention. Find information about labour, the role of the birth partner, and those first moments when your baby arrives.

You'll also find practical tips such as preparing your home for the birth, or what to pack for birth in a birth centre or hospital obstetric unit.