labor

Fetal monitoring is watching and listening to the baby's heart rate for indicators of stress, particularly during labor and birth. There are essentially four different types of monitoring available-therefore it is good to know the…

Back pain in labor is very common. Although there are many positions you can try to alleviate the pain, the seated knee press is one that has yielded great results. It works by "pressure directed via the femur straight into the flexed…

Emotional dystocia in labor that is unresolved can lead to a cesarean. Emotional dystocia is the clinical term for emotional stress. When a woman experiences emotional stress in labor, the catecholamines in her body rise. The excessive…

Moms who choose an epidural in labor often get stuck in bed. If the epidural works properly, your bottom half (from your waist to your toes) is usually too numb to squat or stand. However, you can do a supported squat position on the bed…

Having to make difficult choices while you're in labor may be one of the hardest and most frustrating things you'll have to do. Before consenting to certain procedures during labor, you'll want to know exactly what you are consenting to.…

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…