Get ready to give birth!

If you're just in the early stages of pregnancy, it may seem as if childbirth is a long way off. However, it's best to start preparing for birth and labour as soon as you find out you're pregnant, so that you don't have a last-minute panic the week before you're due to give birth!

Antenatal classes can be a great way to prepare you for childbirth. You will learn about the process of labour and be given information on pregnancy and parenthood:

Janet, 28, mum to Alice, 4: 'I found that childbirth classes really helped me prepare for birth. As a first-time mum, I didn't know a great deal about pregnancy or babies but after attending the classes I felt much more well-informed. I also made some great friends who I've stayed in touch with.'

Gentle exercise during pregnancy is a great way to improve your fitness levels in preparation for birth. A fantastic way of ensuring you're as relaxed as possible while you're expecting is to take up pregnancy yoga. It will improve your state of mind and make your body more flexible and supple for birth. It also helps you to practice and control your breathing, which comes in very handy for labour:

Linda, 34, mum to Jasmine, 2: 'I didn't have many pregnant friends when I was expecting Jasmine, so I decided to join a pregnancy yoga group. I went once a week and really enjoyed it. The breathing techniques proved invaluable for labour and I've made some great friends.'

Another aspect of labour you might give some consideration to is the position in which you will give birth. Although in the actual event, your plans may well go out the window, it's worth having a few ideas in mind. The options are lying on your back, on your side, on all fours, sitting, squatting or standing. See our video on Positions for labour for more help.

Flo, 24, mum to Lily, 2: 'I had a clear idea of the position I wanted to give birth in. One of my friends recommended that I go on all fours as it was comfier, so this is what I chose.'

If you can avoid having an episiotomy - this is when a cut enlarges the vaginal opening - then so much the better. Perinneal massage can help. This is a technique you can practice every day from 34 weeks. It stretches the tissue round your vagina and perineum so that you're less likely to need an episiotomy.
Start thinking about massaging your perineum everyday for six to eight weeks before your due date. Your perineum is located just below your vagina and just above your rectum and is a stretchy piece of skin. Make sure your hands are clean and any jagged nails are cut beforehand. Apply olive oil or sweet almond oil to the base of your vagina and move your finger slightly inside. Move your fingers up the inside walls of the vagina in a U shape, and repeat the procedure every day.

Charlie, 34, mum to Bobby, 4: 'Although some people are put off by the sound of a perinneal massage, it can really help. I managed to avoid having an episiotomy and this could well have been why.'

Give some thought as to where you want to give birth, whether it be at home or in hospital. It's a personal choice and you must make a decision based on whatever you feel most comfortable with. Also, spend some time thinking about what to take with you to hospital. You may just stay in hospital overnight, but it's best to be prepared. Pack some pj's, a dressing gown and a change of clothes including some nice underwear. Remember that you won't just ping back into shape, so pack maternity clothes rather than your pre-pregnancy size 8 jeans! In addition, you will also obviously need a set of clothes for your baby. It also might be worth including a few pampering goodies to make yourself feel better after giving birth, such as your favourite make-up and perfume. See our video on packing your labour bag for more help.

Sarah, 21, mum to Finlay, 10 months: 'I packed a really nice bag of goodies to take to hospital to make myself feel a bit more alive and attractive after giving birth. I took my favourite maternity dress, which I wore over some maternity jeans. I also packed quite a few mags which, in retrospect, I'm really glad I did as my labour lasted almost 2 days! You don't know how long your labour will be, so it's best to be prepared.'

Keep things as simple as possible for yourself; don't invite all your friends to visit you straight after giving birth, as you will be exhausted and also keen to spend time with your new baby. Invite your closest friends round to your home in the first week or so after you give birth, but don't arrange too many visits in one week. See if you can spread them over the first few months of your baby's life.

Isla, 32, mum to Jack, 4: 'I thought that, immediately after giving birth, I would want to show my baby off but I felt really overwhelmed by the floods of people that came to visit at hospital and I ended up in tears. I wish I'd had that time to spend with just my husband and Jack.'

Childbirth is an amazing experience, but there's a lot of preparation to do. Many pregnant women meticulously plan every aspect of labour and birth, but then realise that they don't know what to do once the baby arrives! It's a good idea to do as much of your own research as possible; as well as reading up on pregnancy and childbirth, look into issues such as breastfeeding, bathing and winding your baby. The more you know, the better equipped you will feel to deal with these situations and you will thus give yourself the best chance of having as smooth a labour as possible.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.