A small proportion of women have a totally painless first stage of labour or experience very mild contractions and are unaware that anything is
happening until they feel the urge to push.  This may be indicated by a sudden need to empty the bowel.  If your partner should go into labour unexpectedly and you find yourself alone with no time to get help, the following suggestions may be useful. 

1.   First of all relax if you can.  When birth is so rapid, nature is usually at its most efficient and by simply allowing things to evolve, problems are very unlikely.

2.   If there is time, summon a neighbour or phone for an ambulance.

3.   Go to a convenient place that is warm and quiet – the bathroom is ideal.  Wash your hands thoroughly.

4.   Attend to your partner, making her comfortable and helping her to relax.  If her contractions are very strong and rapid suggest that she use the all fours position, as this will help her to feel in control and slow down the contractions a little.  Give her a cushion or beanbag to kneel against if possible.  Spend a few minutes relaxing and breathing together.

5.   Once your partner is relaxed, try to warm the room as the baby is used to body temperature and can chill easily.

6.   Find a few clean towels, sheets or newspaper – whatever you have at hand – to keep the baby and mother warm.  Place a clean towel on the floor between the mothers’ legs.

7.   Get a bowl of warm water, a toilet roll and a bowl for the placenta.

8.   Now get back to your partner and help her to concentrate on her breathing and the contractions, using massage and lots of encouragement if she needs it.

9.   As the baby’s head descends through the birth canal you will see first a round shape bulging around the vagina and then the head will appear through the opening.  There is nothing for you to do apart from waiting for the uterus to do its work and keeping your hands nearby, ready to catch the baby who may come out very rapidly or else slowly and over several contractions.  Get your partner to ‘breathe the baby out’.  Allow the baby’s head to hang down naturally as it emerges and gravity will help to ensure perfect rotation.  Once the head is out, first one shoulder, and then the other and finally the whole body will slither out.

10. If it is not born with the next contraction, check to see if cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck.  If it is loose, slip it over.  If the cord is tight it may need to be cut to allow birth to proceed.  Tie two lengths of tape/wide shoelaces (nothing too narrow) tightly around the cord, and with clean scissors, cut in between the two ties.  Unwrap the cord from around the neck to allow the baby to be born.  Make sure there is no bleeding from the cut ends.

11. If the membranes haven’t ruptured, baby’s head may be born inside the bag of waters.  If this is so, the membranes must be ruptured and removed from baby’s face (carefully with fingernails, nail scissors etc), so that baby does not inhale fluid.

12. Hold the baby with your hand palm up under its chest with the face downwards to allow the fluids to drain.  Wipe any mucous from the baby’s nose and mouth

13. Place the baby on its side, on a clean sheet or towel on the floor for a few moments and then help your partner to sit down and pick up her baby.  Do not cut the cord.

14. Both of you can now relax and enjoy the baby.  Make sure that the mother is sitting in an upright position to facilitate contact between her and the baby and that they are both warm.  Wrap the baby in a towel immediately and wait for the placenta.

15. Encourage your partner to start breastfeeding, as the suckling of the baby will stimulate the uterus to contract and expel the placenta.

16.  If the placenta is coming out ask your partner to squat over a bowl and keep the placenta beside her without cutting the cord.

17.  Give her a drink of warm milk and honey, or tea, as she will probably be a little shocked if the birth was very rapid.

18.  After a while the mother could squat over a bowl of warm water to wash her genital area to prevent infection.  Place a clean towel or sanitary pad between her legs

19. Contact your doctor, midwife or hospital to let them know what has happened.  When you are ready, make your way to the hospital, where the baby’s cord will be cut and any tears will be repaired. 

A fast delivery, which catches you unprepared, is more than likely to be perfectly normal, natural and easy – Enjoy it!!

By Faye Read 
Registered midwife and mother of four