Labor & Delivery | Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine

Labor & Delivery

The aftermath

Congratulations, you’ve delivered a beautiful baby! Now it’s time to face the fallout.

The baby’s here, and your pregnancy complaints are over—but the post-delivery aftershocks are only just beginning… [Note:] These are typical after effects of a vaginal birth. If you experienced complications during or following delivery, you may face additional challenges. Cramping … Continue reading →

Expecting the unexpected

When your labor journey takes a surprising turn, learn to navigate a brand-new path.

You’ve loaded a playlist onto your iPod, cemented your stance on pain medication, and practiced your squat in the mirror. But when you’re in the throes of labor, your “givens” may require a little give-and-take. From insisting on silence in … Continue reading →

Natural beauty

Choosing to give birth the old-fashioned way.

Some moms know as soon as they see that positive pregnancy test that they will be delivering with the aid of a pain-numbing epidural, thank you very much. But others might not be so sure they want to go … Continue reading →

Deconstructing the labor bag

The good, the bad and the useless: What do you really need in your labor day carry on?

Imagine for a moment that one twitch of your nose is all it would take to land you with a gentle thud on the other side of baby’s delivery so you could do a little information gathering—you know, see … Continue reading →

Past due

A few facts to keep you from going postal when you've gone postterm.

One of the most common questions a pregnant woman is asked after announcing she has a baby on the way is “When are you due?” And the askers are not often looking for a roundabout answer. They want a specific … Continue reading →

Stage mom

Know what to expect during each phase of labor.

Labor is a good lesson in rolling with the punches. Unless you have a scheduled induction, there’s no way to know when it’s going to happen or how long it’s going to last. A full-term baby might arrive anytime between … Continue reading →

The postdelivery party favor

Getting to know the amazing placenta.

The ultimate multitasker The placenta is a pancake-shaped organ that grows alongside your developing baby from the moment of conception. Connected by the umbilical cord, this complex piece of biological equipment is filled with small blood vessels that act as … Continue reading →

A life-saving option

Banking your child’s cord blood could be the smartest thing you’ll ever do.

A slew of thoughts ran through my mind when I found out I was expecting my first little bundle. Is it a boy or a girl? What color should I paint the nursery? Will he or she look like me? … Continue reading →

How do you doula?

Why hiring a labor and delivery advocate is worth your while.

Labor and delivery is a lot like free-fall parachuting: You take classes to prepare, you file a detailed plan for the (blessed) event, and then you take the leap. Still, jumping into the hurtling wind with only your significant other … Continue reading →

Special delivery

What you need to know about bringing an early bird into the world.

The road to delivery is paved with a slew of questions and concerns. For the parents of babies born prematurely (before 37 weeks of gestation), the lack of knowledge about what’s happen-ing can be a source of anxiety and extreme … Continue reading →