Childbirth

Childbirth education: Get ready for labor and delivery

Mayo Clinic — Childbirth education classes - Learn what to expect during labor and delivery. By now, you've probably surrounded yourself with articles on childbirth and heard countless labor stories from friends and loved ones. But do you really know what to ...More…

What Is Natural Childbirth?

Kids Health — Some women choose to give birth using no medications at all, relying instead on relaxation techniques and controlled breathing for pain. Get more information on natural childbirth. Some women choose to give birth using no medications at all, ...More…

Dealing With Pain During Childbirth

Kids Health — Alleviating your anxiety about childbirth pain is one of the best ways to ensure that you'll be able to deal with it when the time comes. If you're like most women, the pain of labor and delivery is one of the things that worry you about having a ...More…

Childbirth

American Medical Association — A typical pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks (9 months) from a woman's last menstrual period. During this time, the fetus develops inside the mother's Spontaneous vaginal birththe baby is born through the vagina, usually with only guidance and ...More…

Slide show: Vaginal tears in childbirth

Mayo Clinic — Vaginal tears during childbirth are common. See illustrations of various degrees of vaginal tears. Vaginal tears during childbirth are relatively common. Most vaginal tears involve only the skin around the vagina. These first-degree tears heal ...More…

Stages of labor: Baby, it's time!

Mayo Clinic — Stages of labor - During labor, expect a sequence of events in three distinct stages. Every woman's labor is unique, even from one pregnancy to the next. In some cases, labor is over in a matter of hours - or less. In other cases, labor tests a ...More…

Monitoreo fetal Durante el Nacimiento

College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists — El monitoreo fetal no puede impedir un problema. Sin embargo, puede alertar a su medico o enfermera; estas señales pueden permitirles tomar los pasos adecuados para ayudar a su bebé. El monitoreo fetal es una de la maneras de verificar el ...More…

Signs of labor: Know what to expect

Mayo Clinic — Signs of labor - Know what to expect as your due date approaches. On television, babies are often born with a rush of emotion and swift action. The mother doubles over from the pain of a single contraction, and the baby appears before the ...More…

Contractions

March of Dimes — When you feel contractions, it's normal to assume that you're in labor. But during the second and third trimester, women commonly have irregular (Braxton-Hicks) contractions. These irregular contractions do not mean that labor has begun. These ...More…

If Your Baby Is Breech

College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists — Most breech babies are born healthy. If your baby is still in the breech position as your due date draws near, talk with your doctor. A full-term pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period. In the first 36 ...More…

Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring During Labor

College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists — Fetal monitoring cannot prevent a problem from occurring. However, it can alert your doctor or nurse to warning signs and allow them to take steps to help the baby. Fetal heart rate monitoring is one way to check the well-being of your baby ...More…

Labor pain: Medications for labor and delivery

Mayo Clinic — Various medications can ease pain during labor and delivery. Here's an overview. Many types of medication can ease pain during labor and delivery. Epidural and spinal blocks are common choices, but you have other options, too. Work with your ...More…