Birth Plan

When planning the type of birth experience you would like to have, you'll need to consider a number of factors. One of the most important decisions is where you would like to give birth. You may also want to think about the details of your birth,...

Your baby todayIf you are having a planned cesarean delivery, this is usually offered now-in order to balance the chance of labor starting unexpectedly with that of delivering your baby too soon. It is best for babies to be delivered as close to ...

Your baby todayThe space between the two frontal bones of the forehead (the dark line) has now nearly closed. The bones on the left and right sides come to lie very close to each other with a small gap to allow for further growth of the head and ...

Your baby todayHere the baby is seen within the amniotic sac. For the first time, her head is smaller than her body, marking another developmental milestone. Having a large, heavy head is not a problem in the nearly weightless environment of the ...

Your baby todayAs the embryo transforms from two cell layers into three, a groove develops along the back of the embryo. This groove will develop in the embryo's neural tube-the forerunner of the brain and spinal cord. ...

What's happening insideThe lining of the fallopian tube, seen here, has a moist mucous membrane. This contains cells (brown) that protect the tube's surface. The hairlike cilia (blue) move the eggs along the tubes following ovulation. ...

Developing a Birth Plan Daddy Alert! Make sure you know what's in your partner's birth plan. When she goes into labor, it will be up to you to make sure her wishes are honored whenever possible. You might also want to make sure your own desires ...

Keep on track with your birth plan with this helpful checklist. ...