C-section

Skin-to-skin during your cesarean

Having a cesarean does not mean you and your baby need to miss out on near immediate skin-to-skin contact. Learn how you can advocate for and implement getting your baby on your chest skin-to-skin in the operating room.

Recovering from a C-section

Recovering from delivery is a delicate process. But if you had a cesarean delivery, the healing is different than from a traditional vaginal birth. Treat your body right so you will heal properly.

17 Oregon hospitals are putting a “hard stop” on elective inductions and C-sections

In September, Oregon will be the newest state trying to put an end to medically unnecessary elective inductions and C-sections. Not all hospitals...

5 tips for avoiding a cesarean

The number of cesareans done in the U.S. are rising fast and currently far too many are performed each year....

Rich mothers more likely to have baby by c-section

What is it about c-sections lately? It seems like I've been reading about c-sections constantly in the news. Maybe because...

Laughing gas possibly a safer alternative to stronger labor drugs

Laughing gas (nitrous oxide) may be one of the safest choices in labor pain relief, but that doesn't mean it'll...

Labor and birth interventions do not equal improved outcomes for babies

Not to sound like a broken record, but yet another study shows that unnecessary labor and birth interventions do not...

Scheduled labor is risky for moms and babies

A new study, published in the February issue of the Journal of Reproductive Medicines, restates what other studies have stated...

Mom defies doctor and has a VBAC!

There's an excellent story up at CNN about a mama (Aneka) who had three C-sections, mainly due to pressure from...

Cool pregnancy facts from the CDC

Just for fun, here's a selection of cool birth data via the newest CDC birth vitals statistic report (pdf). On...

How to lose baby weight after c-section

Been through a c-section and frustrated about getting back into your pre-pregnancy jeans? Compared to mommies who have had their babies vaginally, if you’ve endured a cesarean section you may be faced with more of a challenge when it comes to shedding the baby weight. So, before you throw in the towel, check out expert insight about your postpartum body and first-hand advice from real moms post-c-section.

How to lose baby weight after c-section

VBAC risks and benefits: Is vaginal birth possible after a C-section?

It’s a common belief that if a woman has had one cesarean delivery, subsequent deliveries must also happen by cesarean or c-section. New research is attempting to prove otherwise, giving moms hope for a future vaginal birth. Here what experts and real moms have to say about the risks and benefits of a vaginal birth after cesarean or VBAC.

Overcoming a traumatic or disappointing childbirth experience

For most pregnant moms, giving birth is a wonderful experience that, even though it may not have gone exactly as planned, it still brings back happy memories. For some moms, however, their birth experience is disappointing or traumatic, whether from an unexpected C-section, a long and painful labor or premature labor. Author and psychotherapist Elizabeth Levang (who overcame post traumatic stress of a near-fatal delivery of her now teen daughter) shares tips on how to deal with a disappointing or traumatic childbirth.

Inducing labor: What you need to know

If you’re heading towards the end of the last trimester chances are you’ve thought “I am so tired of being pregnant” at least once. Inducing labor may sound appealing for a few reasons – your healthcare provider’s on-call schedule, your (or your partner’s) work responsibilities, family commitments or even just wanting to finally meet your baby. Here are answers to some common questions about induction so you can make an informed choice about this increasingly common intervention.

Basic pros and cons of epidurals during labor

The question of whether or not to have an epidural is personal. If you're pregnant it's best to get the...

Questions to ask about cesarean sections

While you may not want a cesarean section or think you'll need one, sometimes c-sections are necessary. When it comes...

If your water breaks should you go to the hospital?

If your water breaks and you ARE NOT having contractions you can either wait for contractions to start on their...

Placenta Previa: How it affects your pregnancy

Strong heartbeat? Check. Ten fingers and toes? Check. Placenta embedded high? That last one might sound unusual, but it is important to baby's and mom's health too. If you have just been told you have a placenta previa, you may be wondering how this will affect your growing baby. Read on to find out the chances of it resolving on its own (it probably will!) and what to expect if it does not.

How to manage cesarean-section pain

If you have a cesarean birth, either planned, or not, there are some things you can do to manage the...