Labor & Delivery | Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine

Labor & Delivery

Ready, set…

Because you never know when you’ll be racing to the hospital, it’s a good idea to have your bag packed and close at hand. Here's what you should have at the ready.

For mom: Before Hospital gown, if you choose to wear your own Lip balm Hair ties Massage oil Tennis balls in a clean sock for applying pressure Birthing ball Socks Music and downtime entertainment, if desired After Hospital or nursing … Continue reading →

Meet the cast

As the delivery director and star of the show, you get to call the shots on your supporting cast and video venue. Here are some things to consider before you roll film.

Casting call Obstetrician or perinatologist. These highly trained specialists are the most common picks for prenatal care. If your pregnancy is considered high risk in any way, you will probably need to see one of these niche docs. (A personal … Continue reading →

Creating your perfect birth plan

Before the birth, plan. Here’s everything you need to consider to make the best agenda for your big day.

From the first positive pregnancy test, many moms-to-be fret over labor. Writing a birth plan can help relieve your anxiety, and—like Kegels! —it’s a valuable pre-delivery exercise. A birth plan is not actually a plan, per se, but a short … Continue reading →

Embarrassing tales from the delivery room

Even for the most perfectly poised mama-to-be, all bets are off during labor and delivery. Real moms share their shame so you can shrug it off.

I just love watching women go into labor in old movies. Serene, smiling and with not a hair out of place, these women calmly prepare themselves for the trip to the hospital with the air of a woman heading … Continue reading →

Get schooled: Choosing the childbirth class for you

Enroll in childbirth classes to prepare for the challenges of labor and delivery.

Women have been giving birth since the beginning of humanity. Nothing could be more natural, so the process should be completely intuitive … right? Not exactly. Today’s birthing procedures can be more complicated than those of yore, and while modern … Continue reading →

Epidurals 101

Read up on this popular pain killing method before labor day arrives.

Who: Epidurals aren’t just for laboring ladies—they may also be used to kill pain during C-sections and other medical procedures. You are likely eligible for an epidural unless you have certain rare blood, neurologic or back-related medical conditions. Talk to … Continue reading →

All-natural pain managament

There’s more than one way to birth a baby. If you plan to turn down the drugs and needles on delivery day, consider these alternatives for easing labor pains.

There was a time when baby called the shots on exactly when and how he would enter this world. And while that’s still the case in many ways, at least today’s moms have more options when it comes to dealing … Continue reading →

C-section 101

Being in the know about C-sections can make the birthing method a whole lot easier to handle—planned or not.

If a good ol’ fashioned vaginal delivery is in your birth plan, you may be asking yourself why it’s important to get schooled on C-sections. And you’re not alone: Most moms-to-be go into labor with the intention of delivering by … Continue reading →

Real vs. false contractions

How to tell the difference between real and false labor pains.

I’ll admit it. The first time I headed to the hospital to give birth (or so I thought), I was completely convinced that the pulling pains in my abdomen were a sure sign I was about to welcome my baby … Continue reading →

Your labor & delivery glossary

Nothing is more frustrating than being out of the loop in the delivery room when the doctors and nurses start throwing around medical lingo. From a mom’s point of view, these are the terms you need to be familiar with before you hit the bed (or bath) pushing.

Good to know:Some of these terms you’ll almost definitely hear while in labor, and others are only the exception to the rule. Either way, if they come up, you’ll be ready. And keep in mind that most of these … Continue reading →