Stay calm- this allows your body to produce oxytocin that helps your uterus to contract and the body to increase endorphins which is our body's natural pain relief.

When you feel fearful your body produces adrenaline and this can interfere with those good hormones we want to be present in high amounts.

Stay warm- have a blanket ready for after birth. Lots of skin to skin with baby. This helps regulate their temperature, breathing, blood sugars and heartbeat.  It also helps keep you calm.

Stay hydrated and empty your bladder - Remember to regularly empty your bladder.  A drink high in electrolytes can help your body's cells absorb the water rather than just drinking and excreting it back out in your urine. You may like to use a peri-bottle of warm water to encourage your body to release your urine.

Stay close to the ground and use something soft underneath you if you're concerned about dropping baby. A towel or two in the bottom of the shower or a pillow underneath you on the floor can make a nice soft landing.  Slowly bring baby up to your chest just in case the umbilical cord is short.

If the cord is around baby's neck, this is very common, just calmly untangle the cord.

Baby's colouring. If baby is white or grey and floppy, rub baby's back and feet vigorously.  Talk to them. Blow on their face. If you see any mucous or gunk in their nose, put your mouth over their nose and suck it out.

It may take a couple of minutes for baby to come around and cry.

Don't clamp and cut the umbilical cord prematurely (unless the cord snaps). Allow baby's blood to go back through to them as 1/3 of their blood is still in the cord at birth.

You can leave the placenta attached to baby if you have nothing to clamp and cut.​

Your placenta may come out shortly after birth or it may take hours to come out.  If you're not bleeding, are calm and warm, you can just relax and wait for the placenta to come when it's ready. 

Having baby feed at the breast can help bring on contractions to help birth the placenta