The final countdown

You're getting to the point when labour could start at any time. A little preparation now will pay dividends when the contractions start in earnest - and will stop you reaching for the car keys every time your partner has a slight twinge. Make sure you're ready for action when the call comes by reading our top five tips for any-minute-now dads.

One: Know where you plan to have the baby

You need to have decided where your baby will be born well in advance of the due date - make sure you know where.

• Your partner has a right to a homebirth but 97 per cent of British women opt for the hospital.
• You’ll need to check with your midwife whether the pregnancy is low-risk enough for a homebirth.
• In both cases there are a few choices about where and how to have the baby, including water births.
• Sometimes labour is considered a danger to either the mother and baby and a Caesarean section (an operation where the uterus is opened through surgery) is planned. About 22 per cent of British deliveries are by Caesarean.

2: Know the birthplan - and where it's kept

It's a good idea to be sure of the options your partner has chosen and to keep a copy of the birth plan in the hospital bag to give to the midwives when you arrive at the hospital. The birth plan should include:

• Your partner's views on induction (whether she is willing to have the birth brought on artificially with drugs or medical procedures).
• What position she wants to give birth in (on her back, squatting or kneeling).
• Details of what pain relief she wants.
• Whether she objects to any procedures during delivery such as a forceps delivery and an episiotomy (a cut to enlarge the vaginal opening).
• Birth plan? what's that all about?

Remember: your meticulously prepared birth plan may go out of the window at any stage during labour. Your partner may change her mind about pain relief or intervention, or something could go wrong that may result in emergency medical intervention or a Caesarean. It's best just to be flexible and go with the flow.

Three: Know when she's in labour

The onset of labour hardly ever happens on the due date but here are some things to watch for:

• Her waters break (but it may still be ages before birth).
• A show (the pinkish mucus womb-sealing plug comes away).
• Early contractions (sometimes with pain in the lower legs, back and tummy).
• Lower back pain; although the pain could be related to other things such as the baby pressing on the lower back.
• She needs to pee frequently.

There is no need to contact the midwife straight away. Usually, the recommended time to ring is when the contractions are ten minutes apart.

However, it is best to assess other factors when deciding to call the midwife - for example:

• The time of day (whether it is coming up to rush hour traffic).
• Whether you live more than five miles from the hospital.

There is no harm in calling the midwife sooner if you are concerned.

• What do I do if she goes into labour?

Four: Be Prepared  

Because things can happen sooner than expected, you need to be ready-to-go at least two weeks before the due date. Remember:

• Remain in regular contact with your partner (phone regularly – several times a day).
• If using your own car, know the quickest route to the hospital and keep the petrol tank full.
• Make sure you have your partner’s bags, clothes, snacks, birth plan, your list of numbers and change for the payphone (in case you can’t use your mobile).
• The hospital bag: what do we need?

Five: Stay Cool

You’ll be asked to go to the maternity ward or delivery suite (though sometimes you have to wait because the ward is full).

• Your partner’s pulse, breathing, temperature and blood pressure will be checked on arrival. If she's in labour, regular checks will follow. She’ll be asked about contractions, whether her waters have broken and what she has eaten.
• She will have an internal examination to see whether how far her cervix is dilated (opened).

The best thing you can do for your partner is keep calm and stay in control – it will give her confidence.

• Helping at the birth: what can you do?

Author

Gavin Evans is a father of two daughters - aged 17 and 13 - and lives in North London. 15 years ago he changed gear from being a full-time reporter to full-time parent and part-time journalist. His writing on issues affecting fathers has been published in a wide range of publications including The Guardian, The Independent, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, The Times and The New Statesman. He has written five books on sport, a chapter on men in Your Pregnancy Bible and is completing his first screenplay. Gavin also regularly posts blogs at www.gavinevans.net.

Your tips

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