Natural delivery
During a natural delivery the baby is born through the mother’s vagina. A natural delivery lasts between 12 and 18 hours for the first child. A 2nd delivery generally lasts less time.
Before the baby is born, the mother has contractions. The muscles in the uterus squeeze together.
Natural delivery: woman giving birth to her baby.

Contractions
The contractions open up the cervix (the entrance of the uterus). When the cervix is open wide enough, you are ready for delivery.
Woman having contractions.

Woman having contractions.
Pregnant woman standing. The focus is on the internal sexual organs with the baby inside the uterus.

Pregnant woman standing. The focus is on the internal sexual organs with the baby inside the uterus.
The contractions make the cervix, the entrance to the uterus, open up.

The contractions make the cervix, the entrance to the uterus, open up.
The cervix is wider.

The cervix is wider.
When the cervix is open wide enough, the baby can be born.

When the cervix is open wide enough, the baby can be born.
To ease the pain during contractions you can:
- move around;
- use breathing techniques;
- take a bath to relax;
- get aids like a hot pillow or a ball chair;
- ask for an epidural (local) anaesthetic: an injection in the lower back, if you deliver in a hospital or birth centre. The injection can be given while you are sitting or lying.
A woman relieving pain during delivery: she is sitting on a special stool.

A woman relieving pain during delivery: she is sitting on a special stool.
A woman relieving pain during delivery: she is crouching.

A woman relieving pain during delivery: she is crouching.
Doctor giving an epidural (local) anaesthetic: an injection in the lower back to ease the pain during contractions.

Doctor giving an epidural (local) anaesthetic: an injection in the lower back to ease the pain during contractions.
Delivery in a hospital or birth centre
You are received by a midwife.
The midwife:
- Registers the contractions and the heart sounds of the foetus with a monitor;
- Carries out a vaginal examination;
- Answers all your questions during labour.
A gynaecologist is informed about your upcoming delivery.
During delivery, your partner or another person of your choice can stay with you.
If the opening of the vagina is not wide enough to give birth, the doctor makes a small incision with scissors in the tissue between the vagina and the anus (perineum). Sometimes the tissue tears open spontaneously.
The baby comes out of the vagina. The umbilical cord is cut.
10 to 30 minutes after delivery, the placenta leaves your body.
Father cutting the umbilical cord of the baby.

Father cutting the umbilical cord of the baby.
Placenta leaving the woman’s body, 10 to 30 minutes after delivery.

Placenta leaving the woman’s body, 10 to 30 minutes after delivery.
Delivery at home
If you would like to deliver at home, discuss this with your doctor and midwife. If there are no obvious risks, you can deliver at home. Your gynaecologist or midwife will guide you during delivery.