Category: Birth
Breastfeeding and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
Breastfeeding rates are still much lower than they should be. Globally, less than 40 percent of babies under six months old are exclusively nursing. Almost everyone — whether they’re a parent, medical professional, or layperson — knows that breastfeeding is the healthiest infant nutrition mode. But in practice, things work out a little differently. Lots [...]
Key to stopping preterm labor found?
Preterm labor is a serious problem. In the United Kingdom alone, one in every 13 babies is born before they should be. It is no surprise that the topic is of great interest to many researchers then, including a team from the University of Sheffield. They found out that the immune system plays a crucial role [...]
Labor pain: Is it worse with pitocin?
Pitocin — a drug frequently used to induce or augment labor — has become notorious among women who would prefer a more natural birth. In some hospitals, pitocin is used so often that it has almost become a routine. Among many other objections to pitocin, women say that the drug makes labor more painful and [...]
Contractions during pregnancy — Are you in labor?
The third trimester of pregnancy is filled with anticipation! You can go into labor anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks, and may even go a little early. By the time you get to this stage of pregnancy, you will already be very familiar with Braxton Hicks contractions. The fact remains that these can get stronger [...]
What to expect from an emergency cesarean section
There is an awful lot of information on the internet about what to expect from a planned c-section. But what will happen if you planned a vaginal birth and end up with a cesarean suddenly? Both the c-section and the emergency that causes the need for it can be terrifying. Hopefully, knowing what happens during [...]
Induction of labor
Artificially starting labor is called induction. There are many reasons for which labor is induced, and approximately just as many means by which to get labor going. When is induction of labor medically warranted, how can labor be induced, and what are the risks? Read on to find out more.
How to write a birth plan
A birth plan is a document pregnant women and their partners can write, to inform their healthcare providers about their care preferences during labor, birth and the postpartum period. Birth plans have become popular over the last decade or so, and although not every hospital will accept them, they can certainly be very helpful tools. [...]
Labor and delivery: Your rights
Going into labor and giving birth to a baby will always be special and important to you — whether you are going in to deliver your one and only, or having your tenth baby. For the staff at your hospital, your birth is one of many. Though it’s likely that your OBGYN or midwife and [...]
Moms over 40 — induce labor to cut stillbirth risk?
Pregnant women who are over 40 double the risk of suffering a stillbirth compared to women who are under 35 years old, research suggests. Since the risk is apparently reduced if these older mothers give birth birth before 39 weeks, UK researchers suggest that they be given the option of being induced early.
Labor and birth: Would you swap self-hypnosis for an epidural?
There are a lot of alternative pain relief methods for labor, but would you swap an epidural for some self-hypnosis techniques? The majority of women answered this question with a big NO, in a Danish study exploring the topic.
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