Childbirth

When you are ready to have your baby, you'll go through labor. Contractions let you know labor is starting. When contractions are five minutes apart, your body is ready to push the baby out. During the first stage of labor, your cervix slowly opens, or dilates, to about 4 inches wide. At the same time, it becomes thinner. This is called effacement. You shouldn't push until your uterus is fully effaced and dilated. When it is, the baby delivery stage starts. Crowning is when your baby's scalp comes into view. Shortly afterward, your baby is born. The placenta that nourished the baby follows.

Breeched Birth: Caesarean Section or Vaginal Delivery?

Breech presentation is common in about 15% of pregnancies at 29 to 32 weeks.

Complications of the third stage of labor

Making a Birth Plan

What Happens When your Waters Break?

Natural Childbirth

What is a Transverse Baby?

What do Contractions Feel Like?

Evidence for Having a Water Birth

The External Cephalic Version Process

Signs Labor Has Begun

Active management of the third stage of labor

Benefits and Risks of Forceps (Ventouse) Delivery

See more featured articles »

How to Relieve Pain During Labor

Assisted Birth: Forceps or Vacuum Delivery

Water Birth Safety

Anal Sphincter Injury During Childbirth

Heel Prick Test / Guthrie Test

Lithotomy Positioning

Latest Childbirth News and Research

Antibiotic use within 24 hours of birth reduces wound severity in childbirth injuries

Giving antibiotics to women within 24 hours of an obstetric tear during childbirth is associated with a reduced risk of larger/clinically relevant wound complications, find the results of a clinical trial from Denmark published by The BMJ today.

30 Oct 2025

Study finds clear link between osteomalacia and increased risk of complicated deliveries

A research team at Uppsala University has identified a clear link between osteomalacia – a form of bone softening commonly caused by vitamin D deficiency – and a fivefold increased risk of emergency cesarean sections or the need for vacuum-assisted delivery.

28 Oct 2025

Supportive signals during pregnancy ease return-to-work transition for women

Returning to work after maternity leave can leave new mothers wrestling with guilt – feeling they can't fully win at work or home.

17 Oct 2025

Women’s running shoes fail to fit women’s feet

The study uncovers how men's shoe designs fail women runners, urging manufacturers to create footwear that meets their specific comfort and performance needs.

17 Oct 2025

New mothers more likely to experience severe pain and sleep problems after C-section

New mothers are more likely to experience severe pain that disrupts sleep and activities of daily living, as well as develop sleep disorders, if they give birth by cesarean delivery (C-section), suggests research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting.

12 Oct 2025

Understanding the impact of chikungunya on children

Chikungunya is a vector-borne disease that affects both adults and children. While global efforts are ongoing to tackle chikungunya in adults, progress in addressing pediatric chikungunya remains inadequate.

10 Oct 2025

Japan's registry transforms outcomes for infants with biliary atresia

Biliary atresia (BA) is the leading cause of liver failure in infants, marked by progressive destruction of the bile ducts. Until the late 1950s, the disease was universally fatal, with no effective treatments. The development of the Kasai portoenterostomy brought new hope, but outcomes varied widely, and many patients still required liver transplantation (LTx).

8 Oct 2025

New survey reveals Americans' perception of the growing need for plasma-derived medicines

International Plasma Awareness Week (IPAW) takes place globally from October 6-10. The week encourages communities around the world to recognize the vital role of plasma in creating lifesaving medicines and honors those who donate.

6 Oct 2025

Reproductive health agencies call for a major shift in diagnosis and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage

Through landmark new guidelines released today, leading reproductive health agencies are calling for a major shift in how postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is prevented, diagnosed and treated.

6 Oct 2025

GOP falsely ties shutdown to Democrats’ alleged drive to give all immigrants health care

As the U.S. headed for a government shutdown, Republicans repeatedly accused Democrats of forcing the closure because they want to give health care access to immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

6 Oct 2025

Depression and psychosis rise after childbirth while suicide risk declines

Depression and psychosis are more common in women after childbirth than before, but the risk of suicide attempts decreases. This is shown by two new studies from Karolinska Institutet.

25 Sep 2025

Real-time blood testing shows promise for preventing maternal deaths from hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage, severe bleeding after childbirth, is a leading cause of maternal mortality around the world.

18 Sep 2025

Watch: Why is having a baby so expensive in the US?

New moms all over social media are breaking down their incredibly expensive hospital bills after giving birth.

12 Sep 2025

New funding opportunities aim to advance bipolar disorder research

Today, Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD²) announced the opening of a fourth round of funding opportunities for the Discovery Research program. BD² invites scientists across all disciplines to apply for up to $4.5 million per grant.

11 Sep 2025

Mediterranean-style diet benefits maternal health during pregnancy and breastfeeding

A Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fiber, vegetable proteins and healthy fats, benefits maternal health during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

10 Sep 2025

Study maps gene activity across pregnancy breastfeeding and post-weaning stages

In a study in mice, researchers have identified genes associated with the dramatic transformation of the mammary gland in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and after breastfeeding as it returns to its resting state.

9 Sep 2025

What are the benefits of chewing gum beyond oral health?

Chewing gum offers health benefits beyond oral care, enhancing performance and recovery, but research gaps for children and seniors need addressing.

29 Aug 2025

Early puberty and childbirth tied to accelerated aging and higher disease risk

Reproductive timing matters when it comes to aging and age-related disease. In a study now online at eLife¸ Buck researchers determine that girls who go through puberty (the onset of menstruation) before the age of 11 or women who give birth before the age of 21 have double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart failure and obesity and quadruple the risk of developing severe metabolic disorders.

18 Aug 2025

Microbes found to play a key role in shaping early brain development

New research from Michigan State University finds that microbes play an important role in shaping early brain development, specifically in a key brain region that controls stress, social behavior, and vital body functions.

13 Aug 2025