Pregnancy

Cervical dilation during pregnancy occurs during labor, allowing the baby to pass through the birth canal. Uterine contractions and pressure of the baby's head against the cervix encourage...

Placenta previa is a pregnancy complication where the placenta sits low in the uterus, covering the cervix. It may be complete, covering the whole cervix or partial, where only part of the cervix...

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...

There are many methods and tips available on the internet for women who are trying to conceive. Most of them are the obvious things, eating healthy, taking folic acid before and during conception,...

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...

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...

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...

In order for a woman to become pregnant, sexual intercourse or insemination must take place at her peak fertile period. This period is very short and occurs around the time that the woman...

Cervical cancer usually is derived from human papillomavirus and develops when cancerous tissues begin to form in the cervix. Cervical cancer usually develops quite slowly and with no symptoms but...

The placenta is the life support system for a fetus; it connects the growing fetus to the mother and supplies nutrients and oxygen and removes waste. According to the American College of...

Sometimes it may seem difficult to get pregnant, or you are just ready to start or extend your family. There are many things that women and men can do to improve your chances of getting pregnant.

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.

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...

Placenta previa is a pregnancy complication that occurs when the placenta attaches to the lower wall of the uterus. The low-lying placenta may cover all or part of the cervix, and it may detach...

Sex can be a normal part of pregnancy, and so can a small amount of bleeding. But when bleeding follows sex (postcoital bleeding), pregnant women may naturally be concerned. According to the...

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...

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...

Being pregnant is a beautiful, natural occurrence that can be uncomfortable and painful at times. Women look for natural methods to ease their discomfort and hopefully bring on labor....

According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, placenta previa affects 1 in 200 pregnancies. The placenta lies low in the uterus, partially or completely blocking the...

Placenta previa is a condition in pregnant woman in which the placenta is located so low in the uterus that it partly or completely covers the opening of the cervix. Because the baby must exit...

The cervix is the lower portion of a woman's uterus, located at the top of the vagina. It is somewhat doughnut-shaped, with an opening in the center that can stretch open and close tightly. Though...

The Due date is an estimation, and not an exact science, but there are many reasons to want to get the pregnancy over with, as long as the baby is ready as well. One of the main reasons for me...

Every mother looks forward to that special day when her baby is due to arrive, and anticipation can lead some mothers to feel anxious as the due date approaches with no labor pains in sight. It's...

If you stand or exercise immediately after coitus for pregnancy, you can still get pregnant. It only takes a few seconds for sperm to reach the cervix after ejaculation, and there are millions of...

The normal gestation period for women is 40 weeks. Occasionally a woman's cervix may begin to open prematurely and contractions can occur. This only happens in around 12% of all pregnancies. This...

If you are pregnant and have gone past your due date you are probably very uncomfortable. Most likely your doctor has mentioned inducing your labor. Induction can be a scary thought for many...

Oxytocin starts getting released when the baby hits its head on the cervix. Learn about the hormonal loop how to know if you're going into labor in this free video on pregnancy and childbirth.

When the cervix thins or ripens, it's called effacement. Learn about effacement and how to know if you're going into labor in this free video on pregnancy and childbirth.

A woman needs to be ten centimeters dilated to have a baby. Learn about dilation and how to know if you're going into labor in this free video on pregnancy and childbirth.

Losing the mucus plug is also know as a bloody show or bloody discharge. Learn about the mucus plug on the cervix and how to know if you're going into labor in this free video on pregnancy and...

The bishop score is a score that some doctors and midwives use to determine how favorable your body is for a successful labor induction. This score tallies a number in five different areas...

A pregnant woman experiencing symptoms of Incompetent Cervix will require a cervical cerclage. A Cervical Cerclage is placed around the cervix to prevent premature dilation and loss of the baby. A...

Dealing with Incompetent Cervix during pregnancy can be very challenging. In many cases Incompetent Cervix is diagnosed too late as the signs of an insufficient cervix are not visible. It is...

As the last few months of pregnancy dwindle into days, moms-to-be grow more and more eager to welcome their newborn into the world. But eagerness often shifts to anxiousness when the baby is...

Your way over due, exhausted, and ready! But he just won't come...read on!

Labor induction means starting your labor artificially. The reasons for labor induction includes no contractions although your water bag is already broken, overdue baby and health issues that...

Although television and cinema often depict the onset of labor through visuals of a woman grasping her stomach and yelling out in pain or the surprising gush of her broken water, these situations...

How can you tell if labor is imminent? Watch for these signs...

Pregnancy is an exciting and terrifying time of life. Some people plan their pregnancies while others find themselves caught off guard. Sore breasts, nausea, and fatigue are all symptoms that...

For nine months, you've been waiting for your due date to arrive. But that date has come and gone, and now you're overdue. If so, there are some things you can do to induce labor.

The dilation and curettage procedure is better known as a D and C. With this procedure, the cervix is dilated, and an instrument is used to scrape the contents of the uterus. This procedure is not...

The majority of pregnant women will have to deal with Braxton Hicks contractions at some point during their pregnancy. These contractions, sometimes referred to as "false labor," are most often...

A midwife or doctor will check a woman's cervix for dilation to help determine if labor may soon start. The cervix will soften and dilate to allow for the baby to be delivered vaginally. The rate...

It can be difficult for an expectant mother to tell the difference between genuine and false labor, which is also known as "Braxton Hicks" contractions. This is especially true for first-time...

Being diagnosed with an incompetent cervix during pregnancy can be a very scary thing. However, treatment of the incompetent cervix is crucial for a full term pregnancy and a healthy baby. Here...

An incompetent cervix is a rare complication of pregnancy that often occurs in the second trimester. One out of 100 pregnancies are affected by an incompetent cervix, which is defined as the...

Acupressure involves applying pressure using your fingers and thumbs on specific points. Using acupressure is a natural way to induce labor by helping the cervix to ripen and dilate. This is a...

Placenta previa is a condition that can frighten an expectant mother, but it doesn't necessarily threaten the pregnancy. You can reduce the risk of this condition and learn how to deal with it by...