Labor & Birth

Birthing balls can speed the first stage of labor, which begins as the cervix starts to change. Steady contractions rhythmically squeeze the baby whose head applies pressure to the cervix...

You are your most vulnerable, stressed, and let's face it...unclothed. Why would you possibly want an audience for the birth of your child? Some people want their mom or friend there... some...

Knowing the date on which a baby is estimated to be born can help expecting parents plan accordingly for their new arrival. It will also help a doctor know when to administer certain tests and...

Whether past their due date or simply hoping to speed along the delivery process, many women have turned to natural remedies to ease them into the beginning stages of labor. One such herbal remedy...

Having a baby can be a very scary thing when you do not know what to expect. Many women are afraid of tearing and often wonder ways they can protect their perineum from this discomfort. Following...

Choosing the right doula is easy with these simple interview suggestions.

Giving birth for the first time can be awe-inspiring events of your life. The fears, anxieties, hopes and dreams can all conspire to keep you in a turmoil of emotions. Gaining knowledge of what to...

Am I in labor? It seems like it should be a simple question, but so often it isn't. In the movies, a woman's water breaks---and then the baby's on the way (after a mad dash to the hospital). In...

After nine months of aches, pains and sleepless nights, many pregnant women are anxious for labor to begin. The good news is that there are plenty of methods you can try to induce labor naturally....

According to both the American Pregnancy Association and the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, water births have become more popular over the last 25 to 30 years. Proponents...

After nine months of pregnancy, many women are ready to have their babies and move forward with the task of being a new mom. If you are close to your due date, and especially if you have passed it...

The last month of a pregnancy can be hard on a woman and one of the slowest times of her life. She may be big and miserable, and all she wants to do is hold her new little bundle of joy in her...

Are you planning on getting pregnant or already pregamant and want want to calculate your estimated due date as well as your estimated conception date? You can do this by using a pregnancy...

tierd of being big and pregnant need a boost to start the process here are some simple ways to attempt to get things moving along, although somethings work better for some that others , one thing...

Water birth is a birthing technique used most often in home deliveries. Water birth is used to help ease the contraction pain of the mother during delivery, and can be used by women who are not...

With hospital births being so expensive, and some feel dangerous, many women are rethinking the paradigm and choosing home births. If your pregnancy is low risk, here is the woman-to-woman guide...

When a woman becomes pregnant, her body creates a mucus plug near the opening of the cervix. This mucus plug's purpose is to keep germs and bacteria from entering the cervix and harming the unborn...

After childbirth it is not uncommon to feel burning in the vaginal area. This burning sensation is often caused by the pressure and strain of pushing during labor and can be moderate or severe. ...

Clary sage essential oil is known to help heal a variety of aliments including migraines, PMS, depression, and stress-related symptoms. Another interesting way to use this essential oil, however,...

A pregnant woman may become anxious when her doctor schedules her for a labor induction. The methods of inducing labor in the hospital include the administration of Pitocin, which results in more...

Giving birth to a child gives your mind lots of reasons to wander, worry and become overly anxious. While the experience is different for everyone, there's a group of women who have a little extra...

Labor is induced for several reasons, usually determined by your doctor. Overdue babies are often brought into the world via induced labor. This combination of medicine and technique is used in...

If you are pregnant and thinking of hiring a midwife, then you probably have some questions about the kind of care you will receive during your pregnancy, labor and postpartum period.

Childbirth is called labor with good reason: it's hard work. Moderate exercise is important to keep new mothers healthy during pregnancy. It's also good for your baby if you exercise; exercise...

A birth certificate is an important legal document that is used to prove that you are a United States citizen. The application for a certificate is completed after your baby is born, usually while...

A typical pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. When a woman has reached this point in her pregnancy without going into labor, there are many natural techniques she can try to induce labor. These remedies...

Many pregnant women anticipate the symptoms of early labor. However, there are some sure signs of labor which will indicate whether or not you are going into labor.

You'll learn how easy it is to have your baby naturally, at home, rather than in a hospital under the influence of doctors.

The past few decades have seen a drastic rise in the number and uses for DNA testing. Scientists have known about the existence of DNA for quite some time, but testing for common purposes has...

In the last trimester of pregnancy, time seems to pass incredibly slow. If you've gone overdue, which happens in many first pregnancies, you may find the wait (and weight) unbearable! Many people...

The Bradley Method and Lamaze are two of the most popular methods of natural childbirth. Both emphasize limited medical intervention and focus on childbirth being a natural process. To a casual...

If you have carried your pregnancy to full term, or you are over 37 weeks pregnant, you can begin to find natural ways to induce labor. Many women wish to go into labor on their own, without...

Midwifery is the term applied to the field of medicine practiced by midwives. Midwives are people, usually women, trained in pregnancy and delivery that emphasizes a natural approach based on the...

When you are 39 weeks and ready to pop, you may be willing to do anything to encourage your little one to emerge. Here are a few things you can do to induce labor at home.

Did you just have your first caesarean section or maybe you are about to have a planned one. Whether if it was an emergency or planned here are some guideline's to healing properly yet quickly...

If you are over 39 weeks pregnant, you are not only excited about having your bundle of joy, but also probably bulging and uncomfortable. There are certain herbs that will help induce labor....

A C-section, also known as a caesarean delivery, is surgery that delivers a baby through an incision in the abdomen and uterus, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A C-Section is a safe procedure,...

If you are considering having a home birth, choosing to have a home water birth may be the right choice for you. Home births have become very popular as mothers realize the amazing benefits to a...

Maternity acupressure is a natural technique for inducing labor and relieving labor pains when your baby is overdue. Originally used more in Asian countries, this method is now becoming popular in...

The baby clothes have been folded and re-folded, the crib is put together, the car seat is buckled in the car, and you might possibly feel like you can't wait one more day to welcome your new...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that one out of every five births that takes place in the United States is induced. Labor may be induced because of the condition of the...

By the time the third trimester rolls around, most women are more than ready for their babies to be born. Some women may even be tempted to get the ball rolling themselves. If you want to try to...

There are a number of reasons your doctor might decide to induce labor: you've gone two weeks past your official due date, your baby is very large, you have had a complicated pregnancy, or if your...

Preparing to have a baby can be an exciting, yet scary time for a new mother. Being pregnant is such a joy for many mothers-to-be as they can't wait to meet the little one they've come to love...

When it comes to making birth less painful, drugs aren't the only option. Natural birth is healthier for mothers and babies. Women who forego anesthesia have faster delivery and shorter recovery...

Packing the hospital bag for the birth of a baby causes a mixture of excitement and anxiety about the impending arrival. A packed hospital bag also offers a sense of relief because you are...

Stripping of the membranes is a procedure performed by a doctor which may help stimulate labor in a pregnant woman. This technique is usually used at the end of pregnancy during a vaginal exam.

Forty weeks can seem like an eternity for a pregnant woman. Fortunately, there are some foods that can be eaten that may induce labor---if your cervix has already begun to dilate.

Sometimes pregnancy does not go exactly to plan and a women is close to or past her due date and wants to just meet her baby. Labor typically happens naturally when the body is ready for the baby...

Women cannot predict exactly when they will go into labor. A month before a woman gives birth, her body begins to prepare. There are signs that a woman can look for during the last month of...