Top 5 Questions Parents Ask About the Birth Process

Katie Lavender is a registered nurse with over 10 years of experience in labor and delivery, as well as postpartum care for mothers and babies. She’s helped hundreds of families navigate childbirth, both the joyful and the traumatic.

While most births go as expected, Katie has seen firsthand how quickly things can change during labor and delivery. As a medical reviewer for the Birth Injury Justice Center, Katie helps ensure families get accurate and trustworthy health information, especially when they’re dealing with the aftermath of a preventable birth injury.

In this Q&A, Katie sat down with our team to answer five of the most common labor and delivery questions parents ask as they prepare for childbirth. Hear from Katie below.

1. When Should I Go to the Hospital?

There are two main reasons to go to the hospital — if you think you’re in labor or have any worrisome symptoms.

A common sign of active labor is having consistent, painful contractions that last about 1 minute and occur every 5 minutes.

Early labor may present as scattered, mildly painful contractions that are inconsistent and not repetitive. If you are greater than 37 weeks pregnant and are having signs of early labor, you should remain at home until the contraction pattern is more consistent with increasingly painful tightening.

It’s commonly recommended to monitor contractions at home for at least an hour to see if they remain consistent or decrease with rest and hydration.

If your water breaks at home, it’s important to write down the time it breaks, the color of the fluid, and whether it has an unusual or unpleasant odor.

If you are experiencing painful tightening of your abdomen and are less than 37 weeks pregnant, you should go to the hospital immediately, as you might be in preterm labor.

Other signs that there may be a problem and you would need to go to the hospital include vaginal bleeding or if you do not feel the baby moving as often or at all. If you’re unsure, you can perform kick counts to monitor if your baby moves at least ten times in one hour.

2. What Are My Options for Pain Relief When I Am in Labor?

There are various ways to help manage labor pains, ranging from natural approaches to medicated interventions. Even if you desire medication for pain relief, there are great natural options to consider during early labor.

5 drug-free ways to manage pain in labor include:

1. Using breathing techniques
2. Changing positions or movements, like rocking, applying counterpressure, or massage
3. Practicing hypnobirthing through visualization and self-hypnosis
4. Sitting on a birthing ball to help ease pressure
5. Creating a calm environment with aromatherapy, soft music, and dim lighting

Medicated pain relief options include getting medication through an epidural, inhaling nitrous oxide, or receiving IV (intravenous) narcotic pain medications.

If you want an epidural, the anesthesia team will place a catheter into your back (into the epidural space of the spine). There will be a continuous small dose of an opioid pain medication, such as fentanyl, and an anesthetic for numbing, like bupivacaine.

Another option would be to inhale nitrous oxide through a mask when the contraction starts. It is quick-acting, non-invasive, and can help if you have a more natural birth plan in mind. Commonly called “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide can help you feel more relaxed and at ease.

IV narcotics can help to manage your pain if you are trying to avoid getting an epidural. They won’t numb you, but they can help control pain intensity.

3. How Long Will Labor Last, and How Long Will I Be at the Hospital?

Once you are in active labor, it’s standard for it to last around 12 to 24 hours for your first baby. For subsequent pregnancies, labor is usually shorter and commonly under 12 hours. Every woman’s body is different and may require different interventions depending on the mother’s and infant’s health status.

If you are brought to the hospital for an induction, which is a process involving medications to initiate labor, it can take about one to three days for delivery to occur.

Women can be scheduled for an induction if there is a health concern, such as high blood pressure, or if their water has broken. If you arrive at the hospital and are in early labor, they might encourage you to either return home until you make cervical dilation changes, or they might augment your labor.

Augmentation is when your doctor helps your labor progress faster with medications, such as oxytocin (also known as Pitocin®).

4. Who Can Be In the Delivery Room With Me?

While every hospital has different rules for how many people can be in the room with you when you give birth, there are some common standards.

If you are having a vaginal delivery, a support person is encouraged whether it be your significant other, a family member, or a friend. If you have a C-section, it is standard that you are allowed one person in the operating room with you.

Most hospitals have a standard of no more than three guests in the room during your delivery because doctors and nurses need space to intervene in case of an emergency.

Some women hire a doula, a person who provides support, encouragement, and guidance to promote a non-medicated, comfortable labor. If you have a doula, they count as one of your guests.

5. What Do I Need to Bring to the Hospital?

The hospital will provide you with all the items you need during labor and postpartum (after giving birth). If you are out of the house and labor begins, you can go to the hospital and feel at ease knowing they have all the necessities for your stay.

However, there are some items I encourage women to pack in their hospital bags and have ready in the car by 35 weeks.  This can make labor and postpartum more comfortable.

You’re encouraged to bring your own toiletries. However, the hospital can provide most essentials to help you maintain proper hygiene.

Labor and Delivery Questions After a Difficult Birth

Katie has spent her career working alongside labor and delivery teams, caring for newborns and responding to emergencies in the delivery room.

She’s helped countless families feel prepared for what’s ahead. Still, not every delivery goes as expected—and when something goes wrong, the questions can feel overwhelming.

If your baby was injured during labor or delivery, you may be left with unanswered questions. Our team is here to help families understand what went wrong and whether medical negligence played a role.

The Birth Injury Justice Center connects families with experienced attorneys who can guide them through the legal process.

Call us right now at (800) 914-1562 or get a free case review to see if we can help you provide a better future for your child.