In preparation for the birth of your baby, your cervix effaces (thins and stretches) and dilates (opens) so your baby can fit through the birth canal. This cervical ripening can begin days or even ...

There may be twists and turns as your labor unfolds. But knowing what you might encounter can help you navigate this exciting but potentially challenging experience. Credit...Shawna X Supported by By ...

The early stages of labor can be filled with a range of emotions for expecting mothers including pain and uncertainty. Preparing yourself for the unexpected — to the best of your ability — ...

Stage 1: up until descent of the fetal head to the pelvic floor Stage 2: active expulsion of the baby Stage 3: expulsion of the placenta Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) refers to excessive blood loss ...

Here's what happens during each stage of labor – from how long each stage lasts to what you might feel. Labor happens in three stages — early labor and dilation, pushing and delivery, and finally, ...

Here’s a play by play of what happens when. What happens: During this stage, your cervix dilates. Early on, contractions may be mild, but become more intense and closer together during active labor.

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It's started! The thing you've been gearing up for over the last nine months! So naturally you're in control, you know exactly what to do, you're calm, capable. . . Or at least you would be if only ...

In some circumstances, a doctor may recommend speeding up dilation with medication, procedure, or nipple stimulation. While every pregnancy and delivery is different, most women will agree that by the ...