Pregnancy

You don't have to be a certified massage therapist to give a laboring mom a good rub down, as long as you are careful. Moms in labor are usually quite sensitive to touch and smells. So, you must be careful about how much pressure you…

Movement in labor is a good tool to use to help the baby descend more quickly into the pelvis and also to descend in the proper position. Walking, squatting and even changing positions in the bed help your baby navigate his way into the…

Many moms in labor experience low back pain or pressure. As the baby settles lower into the pelvis, the head puts more pressure on the sacrum. To counter this pressure, moms generally like the hip squeeze. It's an effective,…

Labor is broken up into four stages: early, active, transition and pushing. Transition is the shortest phase, but often the most challenging phase of labor for most women. Powerful contractions change the cervix from 7 centimeters to 10…

In most cases, a woman feels some achiness or cramping in her back during labor, reveals the American Pregnancy Association, and for around a quarter of women back pain is severe. This pain is commonly referred to as "back labor," and tends…

Many women in labor handle every contraction they have with dignity. Sometimes it's hard to even tell when they are having contractions and when they aren't. However, some women experience contractions that put them over the top. They…

There's no turning back now. Early labor is the first phase of labor, and you'll probably find it's the easiest phase. Though early labor shouldn't be too painful, it's normal to want to race to the hospital at the first sign of labor, but…

Home births in the U.S. increased by 29 percent between 2004 and 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you decide to go the home route, this doesn't mean you should have your baby without any medical…

The process of giving birth is called "labor" for a reason -- it's hard work. Although there's nothing relaxing about the physical process of giving birth, you can relax your mind. In fact, the more calming the environment, the less likely…

Herb baths have been used for centuries to treat many illnesses. They have also been used to promote healing. A postpartum herb bath is a combination of many gentle herbs used to promote healing for bruised and torn perineum tissues…