Labour is one of the most talked-about, least explained experiences of a woman's life. You have heard that it hurts, that it takes hours, that everyone copes differently — but nobody has walked you through what your body actually does, moment by moment, in each of the three stages. This book changes that. Written by pregnancy and maternity writer Odette Danbury Thistle, it is a calm, honest, practical guide to the whole journey: the early signs, the long opening of stage one, the intense work of pushing in stage two, and the often-forgotten delivery of the placenta in stage three. You will learn what each stage feels like and how long it can last, how to move and position your body, which comfort measures and medical pain-relief options are available, and the exact moments when you should call your midwife or go to hospital. Clear sections cover assisted birth, caesarean birth, the first hour with your baby, and the early days of recovery. Reassuring, frank and free of judgement, this is the book every expectant parent needs in their hospital bag. Part of The Pregnancy Companion Library.