Delivery

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.

Labor and birth: By invitation only

Some women want a lot of support from friends and family during their labor and birth, while others prefer to keep it intimate, with just their partner. A childbirth professional shares how to know what’s best for you and suggests you include some ground rules to help your birth go smoothly.

4 Stylish alternatives to hospital maternity gowns

Not looking forward to wearing an ugly, old hospital gown during childbirth? We’ve rounded up a few cute alternatives so you can give birth in style.

What's the C-section rate in your state?

The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics just released C-section rates for 1989-2010. If you're wondering if this matters, the answer is yes! Find out how it can affect your labor and delivery, and learn what you can do if you're not thrilled with the rates in your community.

Secrets of the labor and delivery room

Wondering what your options for birth in a hospital really are? Ami Burns, CD(DONA), LCCE, FACCE shares five secrets so you can make informed decisions about labor and birth.

How to manage labor pain during childbirth and delivery

Our guide will give moms tips for managing and reducing labor pain for each stage of labor and delivery. Every mom-to-be wants to know how much labor will hurt and what she can do about it! Whether your goal is a natural birth, you wish you could get an epidural in the hospital parking lot or you have a "wait and see" approach, here are some expert tips to help control pain during contractions and manage the different stages of labor.

How to prepare for a water birth

As parents today, you have many options when choosing a labor and delivery experience. Whether you choose to welcome your bundle of joy into the world at home, in a birthing center, or in a hospital, a water birth may be the right choice for you and your partner.

8 Natural ways To induce labor

Nearing the end of the last trimester? Chances are you’ve heard about inducing labor, and the most common ways to do so: placing artificial prostaglandins near the cervix to help ripen (soften) it or by using Pitocin, a synthetic form of oxytocin, the hormone naturally released in the body that causes contractions. But do you know there are natural ways to start labor? Some approaches are easier than you think, and there may even be some truth to those old wives' tales!

Healthy pregnant moms have choices: Benefits of midwives and out-of-hospital births

In the current climate focused on healthcare reform, reducing costs, and improving health outcomes childbearing women are recognizing that the decisions they make impact their health, the health of their baby, and ultimately what they will end up paying for maternity and newborn care. They are also becoming aware that their choices for care providers and place of birth are limited. Although the great majority of childbearing women in the United States are healthy and at low risk for complications, they are often restricted from choosing midwives as their primary care providers. They are also denied reimbursement if they choose to give birth at home or in a birth center. Both are a safe, lower-cost option attended primarily by midwives.

How to prevent premature labor

How you can prevent premature labor? The March of Dimes estimates that 12 percent, or 1 in 8 of pregnancies in the U.S., are preterm, meaning the baby arrives anywhere between 20 and 37 weeks rather than a normal pregnancy that lasts about 40 weeks. Across the globe, over 20 million infants are born prematurely each year. Find out the risk factors of having a premature delivery and how you can increase the chance that your baby is born full term and healthy.

Choosing a birth place – 10 questions to ask

Did you test-drive more than one car before you bought one? Did you go to more than one open house before buying or renting your first home? Chances are your answer is “yes.” Have you decided where to give birth? Whether you’re thinking about home birth or having your baby in a birth center or hospital, choosing the ideal setting to give birth to your baby is one of the most important choices you can make. The birthplace setting and care you and your baby receive there can impact your labor, birth and early parenting experience.

Top 5 pregnancy delivery tips

If you're psyching yourself up in the hopes the baby's labor and delivery is a breeze, it’s helpful for you to know what to expect during delivery. Here’s advice from the experts to help you be well-informed during the birth of your baby so you can get to the fun part -- snuggling with your newborn.

Anxious fathers make caesarean ops more painful for mothers

Fathers who are anxious during a caesarean operation may increase the pain experienced by the mother after the delivery of their baby, according to new research published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

Massage for childbirth prep may reduce episiotomy rate

Low-tech, at-home preparation in the last month before childbirth could help pregnant mothers avoid one of the more common surgeries performed on women in the United States, a new review suggests.

I don't want family in the delivery room

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Tokens of gratitude: Showing appreciation for someone who cared

When you give birth, you may find that the one person who provides you with the most care is your labor and delivery nurse. You may get to know her quickly and rely on her intensely. She has an intimate and demanding job -- when she's done it well, many moms feel a token of gratitude is in order, and wish they had thought about it in advance.

Herpes & newborns

A mother with genital herpes can easily deliver a healthy baby. And most can have a normal vaginal delivery. Less than 0.1 percent of infants born in the United States each year get infected with genital herpes during

Contraction timer for labor

Is it really time? The main thing separating real labor from false labor is progression: In true labor, contractions get longer, stronger and closer together with time. Use this page to help you time your contractions.

Madame Zaritska predicts your birth experience

Madame Zaritska, our virtual clairvoyant, wants to help you prepare for the arrival of your child. Answer the questions below, and Madame will do her best to predict certain aspects of your labor and birth experience. She might not be exactly on target, but she's sure to make you smile.

Effective birthing positions

There are many different positions that can be used when pushing the baby out. Which ones are most effective will depend on the circumstances of your birth. Childbirth Educator Kira Smith (ICCE) offers some information on various birthing positions.