Help writing a birth scene

[LittleLives1]

Hi, I am currently working on a story and my character is going topics birth in a flashback chapter. The character gave birth aged only sixteen years old, in the nineteen forties in a small house in Dobročsky Forest- Slovakia. The babies father died only days before in her arms and I know she will be in a state of panic when she is in labour.
Unfortunately her baby is stillborn, totally destroying her will to carry on the life she had pre-baby.
However that is simply some background, I am looking for any tips mums can give me on writing a realistic birth scene that is dramatic enough for the situation but isn't overly dramatic and unrealistic.

Thank you for any advice you can give,

Babies' or baby's father? I ask because if it's twins that does rather change things.

You want people to share stories of having a stillborn child so you can use it to write a book?

No, that is not what I want at all, I am not looking for stories of stillbirths, I am looking for general birth stories, general tips on writing a realistic birth scene, I don't need any personal experiences I simply want so ideas on how to proceed

Sorry, it autocorrected baby's not babies

Watch One Born Every Minute. You're not going to get a realistic picture from us saying "it really hurts and there's blood and poo".

Giving birth to a dead baby is dramatic enough. Does your character suspect anything ?? By that I mean did baby die before labour began? Or will the baby die in labour?? Or shortly after labour?? If baby dies before labour starts, what condition will the baby be in?? Be careful, this is a highly emotive subject.

I personal only had one vaginal birth and it was ds2 who was stillborn. He died before labour started. I can't compare it my live births as my other sons were delivered via c-section. But I had few people tell me during my stillbirth induction their stillbirth labour stories (my mum has a very large social group & she asked around as I asked her to). Anyway the ladies I spoke to either said it was their simplest birth and as baby don't move and won't tense up and resist. Then again baby will stay in the position he/she died in. If that position was a bad one then baby can't move and correct him/ herself. Yes, there are live babies who don't go into optimum position as well. Otherwise, labour is labour. At least physically. Emotionally it is completely diffrent.

Remember that labour is usually quite long so if you write every detail it may be a bit dull... My tip would be to sort of slide in and out of it... Short, snappy images and scenes that capture the increasing pain and emotional intensity and anguish.

Unlike the other posters, if you've never been in labour I'd find obem quite obstructive to writing a labour scene as the programme rarely captures the emotional side of labour (tho not watched it for years)

A long time ago I wrote a labour scene where the girl was 16 as well, in love with her boyfriend but knew she was being forced to give up the baby at birth. It made me cry to write it!! (But now I can't find it!)