Pregnancy

Planning for a natural childbirth is a personal choice and is something that takes time and careful planning on your part to ensure that your caregivers understand your wishes. As you plan for...

After nine months of maternity, numerous women are primed to change their babies and suggest forrad with the task of being a new mom. If you are next to your due consort, and especially if you...

If you are 39 to 40 weeks pregnant and your baby still has not dropped or you have not started showing any signs of labor, try using castor oil. Castor oil is a natural laxative that some mid...

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...

Contractions are one of the first signs of going into labor. Contractions can happen up to two or three weeks before you actually go into labor. Many women have fake contractions, otherwise...

Proper positioning of a baby prior to the onset of labor is a contributing factor to the ease or difficulty of labor. Babies should be in a head down position, with the baby facing the mother's...

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...

According to the March of Dimes, more than one million preemies die each year. Premature births can happen to any pregnant woman, regardless of age. While there is no cure for premature births,...

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....

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...

Premature labor occurs when a pregnant woman experiences labor before 37 weeks gestation. If you are experiencing contractions, pelvic pressure, vaginal discharge, low back pain or are leaking...

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...

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,...

First pregnancies can be an exciting and scary time. You aren't quite sure what to expect in your pregnancy and worry about what to eat, how much you can exercise, how you will prepare for a...

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...

At 37 weeks of pregnancy the baby is considered full term. You may experience several changes as your body prepares itself for delivery. Consider packing a bag for yourself and the baby, in case...

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...

If you're preparing for labor, you may feel both eager and anxious, especially if this is your first child. Even women who have children can feel nervous because you never know what kinds of...

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...

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

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...

Pregnancy complications caused by early labor can be very scary to deal with. However, early detection of preterm labor can help a mother carry their pregnancy to full term. This is why it is...

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...

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.

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....

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 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...

If you want to be sure of having you need while at the hospital delivering your baby, plan and pack your hospital bag a few weeks in advance. This way you are ready to go immediately, when the...

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...

Spotting the early signs of labor can be challenging especially if this is your first pregnancy. With so many changes going on with your body you may not know what to look for. If you think you...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Labor is the natural process in which mothers deliver their baby vaginally through contractions of the uterus and dilation of the cervix. Sometimes labor can be a quick process for moms-to-be,...

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...