Labor & Delivery
The end of pregnancy is in sight! Now is the time to do all you can to prepare for labor and delivery. Whether you are giving birth for the first time or the fifth, we are here to help you feel informed, calm, and ready.
Getting Started
View All Articles →It is only natural to wonder what to expect during childbirth. We are here to pull back the curtain. Our articles about labor during pregnancy walk you through the basics — from signs of labor to what contractions feel like and more.
What to Know About the Different Stages of Labor
8 Signs Labor Is Near (And When to Take Action!)
Hospital Bag Checklist: The Ultimate List of What to Pack
4 Must-Know Strategies for an Easier Labor and Delivery
How to Write Your Birth Plan
What Real Contractions Are Like, According to Moms Who've Felt Them
5 Medication Options for Pain Relief During Labor
Medication-Free Ways to Manage Pain During Labor
Alternative Birth Methods Worth Considering
The Best Labor and Birthing Positions, According to OBs, Midwives and Doulas
Baby Is Coming: What to Know About Cervical Dilation
What is Cervical Effacement?
What to Know About Your Water Breaking During Pregnancy
What to Know About the Bloody Show During Pregnancy
Epidural 101: How It Works
What You Need to Know About Preterm Labor
Inducing Labor: What to Know About the Induction Process
How to Naturally Induce Labor: Truths and Myths
What to Know About C-Section Procedures
Moms Tell All: What Childbirth Feels Like the Second Time Around
Natural Birth: What to Know When Planning for an Unmedicated Birth
What to Know When Considering a Water Birth
What Happens Right After Baby Is Born?
Read More About Labor & Delivery
View All Articles →Have the basics down and ready to read more? Our expert-backed labor articles equip you with the info you need about laboring and delivering baby safely.
Lightening in Pregnancy: When Does Baby Drop and What to Expect
How Long After Losing the Mucus Plug Does Labor Start? Experts Explain
How Black Dads Are Becoming Delivery-Room Advocates
Is It Safe to Use Castor Oil to Induce Labor?
A Guide to HypnoBirthing and Its Techniques
What's the Difference Between a Birthing Center and a Hospital?
What Is Augmentation of Labor? (And Why Your Birth Plan May Change)
How a Peanut Ball Can Help You Get Through Labor
Why Cephalic Presentation Is the Ideal Position for Baby During Birth
What Are the Pregnancy Pressure Points to Start Labor? (And Do They Work?)
How to Use All the Labor Props and Bed Features Available to You
Your Guide to Choosing a Maternity Hospital
What Is a Sunny Side Up Baby?
The Most Popular Songs To Give Birth To, According to Playlists
C-Section
View All Articles →Whether you are planning a cesarean or want to understand what happens if plans change, these guides cover procedures, recovery, and family-centered options.
What to Know About C-Section Procedures
How Fast Can a C-Section Scar Heal? What Recovery Looks Like
What Is a Gentle C-Section? Family-Centered Cesarean Options
What Is an Emergency C-Section? When Providers Decide Quickly
VBAC Basics: Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
C-Section Recovery Tips for the First Six Weeks
Think labor might be starting?
Use our free contraction counter to time contractions and see patterns. Pair it with your provider's guidance — never hesitate to call if something feels wrong.
Open Contraction Counter →