Labor & Birth

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...

A cesarean section, or c-section, is a surgical procedure sometimes performed to deliver a baby. It is performed if there are risks associated with a vaginal birth or if the mother has had...

“We have a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful - it’s that women are strong” - Laura Starow Harm. Childbirth is the most rigorous event a woman's body can go through. Your...

There's more to Lamaze than the "hee-hee-hee-hee-hoo" breathing exercises you see on TV. Lamaze is a birthing philosophy that uses a variety of natural pain-relieving techniques. Lamaze was...

You have many choices to make when you find out you are pregnant, including how you will labor and deliver your baby. You decide whether you want to work with a doctor or a midwife. Whether you...

Having a c-section birth due to breech baby, multiple births, or another medical condition? Not exactly looking forward to surgery? There are definitely some advantages to having a c-section...

This topic may seem silly at first. Who cares what they are wearing when they are in labor? However, this is a big concern among pregnant woman. You want to wear something that is comfortable. You...

There are many old wives tales regarding how to go into labor early, here are some of the ideas may kick start labor.

After 9 months of pregnancy, many women cannot wait to get it over with and finally meet their baby. While some methods of inducing labor are old wives' tales, there are many tried and true ways...

Nausea during pregnancy is one of those awful ,dreadful things that sometimes cannot be helped. After having seven kids, I have found not everything works, but some things to help. Take a look and...

During pregnancy swollen feet can become annoying at times. They can hurt and feel as if your skin just cannot stretch anymore. Here are some great ways to relieve that pain of swollen feet during...

After nine months of pregnancy, many women are anxious to deliver. The female body is an effective incubator, and most women will go into labor once the baby has reached full term and is ready to...

Preparing for bringing home baby may or may not come naturally to you. A lot of woman have a lot of frantic energy in the last few weeks of pregnancy so here is a good plan to use that energy and...

During the final stages of a pregnancy, many women feel more than ready to finally meet their son or daughter. While it is not recommended that you attempt to induce labor without first speaking...

Many people feel more comfortable having a home birth, rather than a birth in a hospital. One of the benefits of a hospital birth is that it makes obtaining a birth certificate easy. The hospital...

After you have carried around your baby for 40 weeks, you are probably ready to be through with pregnancy and eagerly anticipate seeing your child. Although natural ways to induce labour are not...

When a pregnant woman's due date has come and passed, being pregnant becomes increasingly uncomfortable. Some foods, such as pineapple and mangoes, can stimulate contractions to begin. Natural...

Acupressure is a natural way to help induce labor by pressing on certain points located on the body. Pressing these points stimulates the uterus to begin contracting or can make contractions...

Birth weight is one of the first facts parents brag about after the birth of their child. Second only to gender, people want to know how much your baby weighs because it is a good indicator of his...

Think it might be time to have your baby? This article will teach you all you need to know about timing your contractions and getting to the hospital on time!

If you are pregnant and have passed your due date, you're probably very eager to meet your new baby. There are many safe and natural ways that you can induce labor at home. However, if you have a...

As your due date approaches, you might start asking yourself...will I know when I'm actually in labor? What if I wait too long to go to the hospital? What if I go in to soon? This article will...

Many pregnant women are anxious to begin labor. It is often the highly anticipated arrival of your baby, and perhaps because you are tired of being pregnant, that may encourage you to try to...