Pregnancy > Labor and Birth

Having a baby is an intense, life-changing experience and you will want it to be just right, which is why a birth plan is so important. Although you don’t have control over when your baby will arrive, you can at least plan how you would like the labor and delivery process to go. Before you get started on your birth plan, write down a few ideas about what you think your ideal birthing situation would look like. (more...)

Also known as pelvic floor exercises, Kegel exercises help to strengthen the important muscles that support the bladder, uterus and bowels, as well as the vaginal muscles. (more...)

An obstetrician or OB/GYN is a medical doctor who has specialized in a variety of women’s services, including pregnancy management, attending the birth and postpartum care. They can also help with any issues associated with the female reproductive system as well as surgical care. Obstetricians practice in private offices, hospitals, and group clinics. (more...)

Being pregnant and preparing to deliver a child, even if it is not your first can be an overwhelming experience. By attending childbirth classes new parents can inform themselves about not only what will happen during labor and delivery, but also throughout their pregnancy. There are many options available when looking for childbirth education classes, and the choice is usually based on preference as well as the availability of classes (some of them fill up fast). (more...)

For centuries women have been helping other women deliver their babies, this is where the occupation of midwife developed. A midwife is an expert on all the options available to a woman during labor and delivery, and specializes in ensuring that the pregnant mother and baby need as little medical intervention as possible. (more...)

You will quickly find out that after becoming pregnant that there are a lot of choices to be made. Foods to eat or not eat, how much exercise to get and even the best way to sleep are all things that you have to decide. Perhaps the most important choices you will make will have to do with who takes care of you and your baby throughout your pregnancy, and where you choose to deliver your baby. While this is a completely personal decision, there are some tips to make it easier to narrow down your options. (more...)

Here are some common terms that you may hear during your labor and deliver, and what they mean: (more...)

A water birth is when women give birth in a tub of warm water. The theory is that since the baby has been floating in a water-like environment for nine months that giving birth to them in water will be gentler and less stressful on both mother and baby. A water birth can consist of the mother laboring in the water, then exiting for the birth, or she can choose to stay in the tub for the delivery, whatever she feels the most comfortable with. (more...)

On occasion it is necessary for a health care provider to assist the mother during the pushing stage in order to make for a successful delivery. After administering anesthesia and ensuring that the mother is comfortable the health provider will use forceps or suction to ease the baby’s head out of the birth canal. (more...)

Around the world the rate of births by caesarean section has increased, with North America leading the pack at around one in four births. Understanding the circumstances that may lead to a caesarean birth helps the mother cope with the decision, should it be necessary and takes some of the fear and anxiety out of having this procedure performed. (more...)