Labor and Delivery

When a woman gets pregnant, so many questions run through her mind: Will it hurt? How much weight will I gain? Will I poop during labor? One question that likely never crossed any woman's mind when they got the news about being pregnant is whe...

Giving birth can be a stressful experience, even if you feel well-prepared. Luckily, there are techniques which you can research in advance that can benefit you when the big moment arrives. Enter HypnoBirthing. More: What Are The Differences Be...

Pregnancy: When to Go to the Hospital Fake Contractions (Braxton Hicks) Most women will experience "fake" contractions sometime in their pregnancy – not all women, but most. Fake contractions, more commonly known as Braxton Hicks contractions, a...

The most common difficulty in newborns is jaundice (yellow-looking skin), and in most cases it will disappear in two weeks or less without any special treatment. For most full-term babies, jaundice should not last longer than one week. What Cause...

You have to make so many decisions when pregnant, from deciding what to do about work, to selecting a doctor, to, of course, choosing a baby name. One decision every expectant mommy makes, whether they’re having Baby 1 or Baby 5, is who they w...

Natural childbirth is not for everyone. You could have an exceptionally long labor, or a low threshold for pain. Both are perfectly valid reasons for wanting some pain relief. You're not going to win any good-mommy awards and your child is not g...

When your due date is near and you prepare for labor, there are going to be several signs and symptoms that it's almost showtime. As you go into labor you'll experience symptoms that may include emotional changes, pains that feel like menstrual ...

Giving birth is a natural process, but what's called natural childbirth is the experience of labor and delivery without the use of any medication or anesthesia. Instead, you rely on natural methods of pain relief, like breathing and visualization...

You're past your due date and your really uncomfortable. What can you do? Dr. Chloe Zera of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston talks about the steps your doctor may take if you're overdue. ...

If you're pregnant with multiples, preterm labor is a real risk. Dr. Chloe Zera of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston discusses the risks, when to go to the hospital, and how your doctor will handle your labor. ...

If your cervix is not dilating, or your baby is not descending, as quickly as expected during the first stage, your doctor will try to assess why this is and if something can be done. Usually, your doctor will assess the three P's: The passenger...

If you're expecting soon, you've probably done all you can to prepare for the birth. Take classes. Check! Pack hospital bag. Check! Prepare freezer meals. Check! But have you made a birthing playlist to play while you're in labor? A recent study ...

The experience of giving birth and labor is different for all women. While we can make some generalizations, some women handle labor contractions better than others. Some women are unaware that labor has begun, while other women experience hours ...

As your due date approaches, it's time to get all your ducks in a row! Use this checklist to organize the must-do tasks in the exciting final weeks of your third trimester of pregnancy. (This hospital packing list is also helpful.) ...

Since every woman's experience of labor is different, it's hard to say exactly what your experience will be like. However, the stages of labor are common for all women. The first stage, when labor becomes established, starts when contractions sta...

Decisions, decisions! Once the exciting news of your pregnancy sets in, it's time to sit down and consider some important questions about everything from your birth plan to your baby's name. Take a step-by-step look at some of the decisions facin...

The second stage begins when your cervix is fully dilated, your baby has moved deep into the pelvis, and you are ready to push. During the tiring second stage of labor, aid the effectiveness of your pushing with body positions such as kneeling, u...

Being active during the first stage of labor is thought to help labor progress. If you're well prepared and practice different postures and positions for labor during pregnancy, you will instinctively be able to use these during childbirth. Also ...