One of the most nerve-wracking parts of pregnancy is learning about — and preparing for — labor. That's partially because there are so few accurate depictions of labor in media and pop culture. The ...

If you're a first-time mother and you opt for epidural anesthesia during labor, your doctor may suggest you wait about an hour after your cervix is completely dilated before you start trying to push ...

Labor can seem like a complicated process, especially if you're a first time mom. There are stages, strategies, and likely some surprises along the way. One of the questions we hear the most on the ...

Your cervix doesn’t open in a single, smooth motion. It softens, shortens, and dilates under the rhythm of contractions. At 9 cm, most of that work is done, but a thin lip of tissue still remains, ...

Moving around and staying active during labor can help it progress faster. Simple techniques like breast stimulation can naturally encourage labor contractions. Medical interventions are sometimes ...

It’s standard advice in so many delivery rooms: don’t push until it’s time. Usually, mothers giving birth are told to wait until the midwife, doctor or delivery nurse says it's time — usually about an ...

Obstetricians have differing opinions about when women should begin pushing during labor and whether the timing of pushing increases the likelihood of a cesarean section. Many obstetricians recommend ...

The cervix of the uterus, also known as the cervix or uterine cervix, attaches the vagina to the uterus. It is approximately four centimeters long, approximately half of which extends into the vaginal ...