Early labour – a quick guide
Early labour
When labour starts
Stages of labour
Routine care in labour
Monitoring your baby during labour
Continuous electronic fetal monitoring
Pain relief during labour overview
Pain relief, epidural
Pain relief, gas and air
Pain relief, patient controlled analgesia (PCA)
Pain relief, Pethidine
Vaginal cuts and tears
Partnership working
KERNOW Maternity & Neonatal voices
Working in partnership to improve services for all
Kernow Maternity Voices Partnership funded this initiative, ‘We support the Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) to ensure services are delivered in a kind, personal and safe way by making sure the service user voice is central to all decision making and quality oversight.
This enables the ICB to fulfil its responsibilities in line with the three year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services in England.’
Kernow Parenting Journey
Support and information with you at every step
Kernow Parenting Journey has been working in partnership to develop education, information and support for families across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Natters Bitesize, Pregnancy Circles and your Personalised Care Plan are designed to work alongside each other to give you a deeper understanding of your pregnancy journey.
Page last reviewed: 27 August 2025