- EpiduralBirth Story: Epidural Pain ReliefAlice was having her first baby. Her pregnancy had been uncomplicated and she had written a birth plan with her husband outlining her desire for a natural childbirth by keeping active and using TENS and then warm water to deal with contractions. ...
- General AnesthesiaAnesthesia for Pain ReliefThis type of regional anesthesia involves injecting a local anesthetic into the vagina where the pudendal nerves are located to reduce pain in the vagina and perineum. The pudendal needle is quite long and thick, so before the injection is given,...
- Relaxation TechniquesMassage and Touch During LaborMany women find massage helpful in labor to induce relaxation, bring about a sense of well-being, and alleviate pain. Your birth partner may find it relaxing and therapeutic too. Ideally, he or she will have had a chance to see massage techniques...
- Drugs for Pain ReliefDrugs for Pain ReliefFor some, natural pain relief may not be sufficient to enable them to deal with the increasing intensity of contractions, and they may choose to use medication in combination with natural techniques. In some situations, for example if labor is in...
- Coping With PainCoping With PainLabor pain is unique and quite different from everyday chronic and acute pain. Generally, pain is a warning sign that something is wrong, but labor pain acts as an "alert" that the birth process is underway and that you need a safe environment in...
- Week 38 of PregnancyYou are 37 Weeks and 4 Days PregnantYour baby todayWhat exactly triggers the start of labor is still a mystery. Does the signal come from your own body or does the baby play a part in the decision? Every labor is different, and the timing of your first labor can be quite different ...
- Week 37 of PregnancyYou are 36 Weeks and 5 Days PregnantYour baby today3D views at this stage of the pregnancy will be extremely clear. Every part of the face is fully developed and your baby will be very expressive. Your baby is only a few days away now from being full term. ...
- Week 31 of PregnancyYou are 31 Weeks Exactly PregnantYour baby todayOne leg is shown here crossed over the other. Your baby can still stretch the legs out fully and even curl up in such a way that the feet can rest on top of the head: just because you're kicked on one side doesn't mean that the hea...
- Natural and Home BirthsNatural Childbirth: A Real-Life ExperienceNatural Childbirth: A Real-Life Experience Mom-isms Your cervix is fully dilated when it has stretched open to the maximum. This provides the opening through which your child will pass. During the late stages of dilation, you may hear the doctor...