The eight things every pregnant woman needs to know before giving birth to avoid a traumatic birth, by veteran health editor EVE SIMMONS

Women were left lying on blood-stained sheets with no pain relief. Babies were born with cerebral palsy because warning signs were ignored. Some were left with lifelong injuries because staff refused to perform caesarean sections.

These are just some of the harrowing birth stories reported over the past year as Britain’s rapidly growing maternity care crisis has come to light.

A multi-party report on birth trauma published last month found that women giving birth in British hospitals are “mocked”, “shouted at” and subjected to procedures they did not consent to.

As a health editor, I’ve interviewed dozens of mothers over the years about their traumatic birth stories. I also asked top maternal health experts about how to ensure the safest birth possible.

I’ve gathered this information, plus advice from campaigners and doctors, to bring you eight essential tips for giving birth in a UK hospital today.

I can’t guarantee that nothing will go wrong. But at the very least, you’ll feel better rested as you embark on this experience

There’s no such thing as ‘too chic to push’

According to official guidelines in the United Kingdom, a woman can choose to have a caesarean section if she requests one. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Reality star Louise Thompson recently revealed that her request for a C-section was denied by hospital staff. Instead, she underwent a 24-hour labor during which she contracted a life-threatening infection, ruptured her uterus and lost three and a half liters of blood.

Hospitals prefer that women not undergo a cesarean section because the risks with a cesarean section are greater than with a vaginal birth.

However, much of this research is based on women who have more than one child. Once you have had a C-section, vaginal births are discouraged in the future due to the risk of bleeding.

Some hospitals may refuse to perform a cesarean section if they do not have enough staff or operating rooms.

If so, they should refer you to a hospital that can do this.

“If you are determined to have a caesarean and it is safe to do so, keep pushing until it works,” says childbirth safety campaigner Catherine Roy.

Don’t believe everything you read on Instagram – or hear in a prenatal class

I’ve debunked several myths about pre- and postnatal health over the years. Many of them first circulated on Instagram, while others stemmed from something said in a prenatal class.

One of those myths is that a ‘natural’ birth (without pain relief) is better for the baby, or that it is better to give birth on your back.

I have heard of tragic cases of babies who have died because the mother ignored the doctors’ advice to induce labor, but followed the instructions of a non-medical birth coach she found on Instagram.

“Stay away from social media,” advises Catherine Roy. ‘And don’t forget, antenatal tutors don’t have medical qualifications.’

You can – even at the very last minute – go to another hospital

I’ve heard countless stories of women rushing to the hospital as soon as contractions start, only to be told by the nurses to go home.

Some women prefer to avoid the hospital until they absolutely have to be admitted. But if that’s not the case, experts say you can go to another hospital.

“Legally, hospitals can’t turn you away if you’re in labor,” says Catherine Roy. “Technically, you can go wherever you want.”

However, according to Dr Pat O’Brien, a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology at University College London, it is better to stay at the hospital where you are expected.

“It’s best to be somewhere where your scans, blood and other detailed information is available, to minimize the risk of them missing something important,” he says.

Dr O’Brien says you should go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible if you suspect your baby has stopped moving, if you are bleeding, have a fever or if your pain is severe and persistent.

If your water breaks, act quickly

Most women will go into labor within about 12 hours of their waters breaking and will deliver within 48 hours.

If your membranes ‘break’, it means the amniotic sac has broken and is no longer protecting you and your baby from infection, which can lead to deadly sepsis.

NHS guidelines state that you should go to hospital within 24 hours of your waters breaking so that you can be closely monitored for signs of infection.

‘If labor has not started naturally within a day, the hospital may suggest you be induced,’ says Dr O’Brien.

If you are not satisfied, ask for the manager

In many of the cases highlighted in the cross-party investigation, life-threatening problems resulted from not listening to women’s complaints.

How do you get medical professionals to pay attention to you if you think something is wrong?

Catherine Roy and Dr O’Brien recommend asking to speak to the most senior person on the ward, which is often a midwife.

“And if you see a junior doctor, ask to speak to a senior one,” says Dr O’Brien. If it’s a midwife-led centre, ask to speak to the unit manager or the most senior nurse.

Asking for a rough timeline of what needs to happen next can help you notice if the birth isn’t going according to plan.

You shouldn’t spend hours pushing

Doctors encouraged women to push for as long as possible before resorting to interventions such as forceps or a C-section.

The logic was that it was better for a woman to give birth vaginally than to undergo major surgery.

Experts have now discovered that prolonged pushing has a devastating effect on a woman’s life: nerve damage, tissue tears and muscle destruction. This can leave a woman with permanent disabilities.

At least one third of women will develop a tear that requires stitches, and in up to one in twelve women the most serious tear will extend from the vagina to the anus.

Dr. O’Brien says the amount of time spent actively pushing should be limited to about an hour, although there are no hard and fast rules.

‘It depends on a number of factors, such as how tired the mother is, the position of the baby, whether the baby is in distress and whether he appears to be moving through the birth canal.’

He adds that nowadays, suction cups need to be used more often than tweezers to coax the baby out.

‘When the contraction comes, the doctor gently pulls the baby from below with the cup into the correct position.’

But if you’d rather not use a device and go straight to a C-section, that’s your prerogative.

Don’t forget to move

The lithotomy position, or frog legs as it is often called, is the position most women are recommended to adopt when pushing.

But over time, this position can put pressure on the sciatic nerves and sciatic nerves in your pelvis and hips, potentially damaging them and even causing partial paralysis.

If you have had an epidural, it may be difficult to move your legs. Therefore, ask someone to stretch your legs from time to time.

Although there are no set guidelines in the UK, US authorities advise that women should be moved every 30 minutes to an hour to protect the nerves.

Epidural anesthetics are safe – but there is an alternative

The risk of paralysis after an epidural is small, but is often discussed.

Some studies suggest the risk is as low as one in 141,000, and this usually happens because the needle has hit a nerve or blood vessel, or if you have an infection in the wound.

“In the 15 years I’ve been doing spinal taps, I’ve never seen a case of paralysis—and neither have my colleagues,” says Dr. Nadia Alam, an anesthesiologist and past president of the Ontario Medical Association in Canada.

A much more common but less serious complication is a “post-dural puncture headache.” This feels like a terrible migraine and begins in about one in 100 cases within a week of the spinal tap. It happens when the fluid that cushions the spine and brain leaks out of a hole, disrupting the delicate fluid balance surrounding the brain.

Some go away on their own. But always seek medical attention as soon as possible, as there is a risk of bleeding around the brain if left untreated.

Although the pain-relieving benefits of an epidural anesthetic far outweigh the risks, there is an alternative if you don’t want that.

Last year, health leaders approved remifentanil for labor pain. This powerful painkiller is administered through a vein in the arm and ensures that you can maintain more movement.

Its effect wears off quickly, which means you will need to be retreated regularly. In addition, you should be monitored regularly, as the drug can cause a drop in oxygen levels. This is probably why many hospitals do not offer it regularly.