Vaginal Childbirth: Care Instructions Mercy
Vaginal Childbirth: Care Instructions Overview Vaginal birth means delivering a baby through the birth canal (vagina). During labor, the uterus tightens (contracts) regularly to thin and open the cervix and to push the baby out through the birth...Breathing Techniques for Childbirth
During childbirth, breathing in a rhythm can help distract you from pain. It can also help relax your muscles and your mind. As your due date gets closer, you can learn and practice different ways of doing focused breathing, such as belly breathing and pant-pant-blow breathing. Childbirth classes can also teach you...Anesthesia: Epidural for Childbirth
Learn about an epidural for labor: what it is, how it's done, and its safety and side effects.Learning About Childbirth Pain Relief Without Medicines
Nonmedical pain relief options are ways you can comfort yourself and help relieve pain during labor without using medicines. Some examples include breathing in a rhythm and getting a massage. You can also do things to distract yourself, such as reading, walking, or listening to music. For some people, these can work well.Learning About I.V. Medicines for Childbirth Pain
Intravenous (I.V.) medicines may be used in childbirth to help with pain during labor. They also may help you relax. They include opioids and other medicines. You may get one or more medicines through an I.V.Pregnancy and Childbirth
Provides links to info on pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period. Offers interactive tool to calculate your due date. Also links to interactive tool that shows how an embryo grows into a baby.Childbirth Classes
A childbirth education class can teach you and your partner a lot. This is especially true if it's your first pregnancy. If a friend is going to be your labor coach, they can come too. A good time to start the class is in your sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. Most childbirth education classes will: Give you good...Childbirth: I.V. Medicines
Intravenous (I.V.) medicines may be used in childbirth to help with pain during labor. They also may help you relax. They include opioids and other medicines. You may get one or more medicines through an I.V. How are these medicines given? A nurse will insert a small tube into a vein in your arm (intravenously, or...Spinal and Epidural Pain Relief for Childbirth
Spinal and epidural pain relief methods are used to block pain from an entire region of the body. They use numbing medicine given near the spinal cord. They can be used for either a vaginal birth or a cesarean delivery (C-section). They partly or fully numb your belly and lower body.Pregnancy: Should I Have an Epidural During Childbirth?
Guides you through decision to have an epidural during childbirth. Lists benefits and risks. Lists other ways to control labor pain. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.