The last nine months may have seemed to last forever, but now you're on the home stretch. This section explains what happens on the delivery day - and will help you anticipate the steps that make this day a genuinely remarkable and memorable event.

Labor Basics

• False labor (Braxton-Hicks contractions)
• The signs of true labor
• The three stages of labor
• Procedures that may take place during labor and delivery

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Cervical Changes During Labor Tool

Approaches To Childbirth

• Bradley method
• Lamaze
• Strategies for getting through labor
• Tips for labor coaches
• Pain relief during labor and delivery

Delivery

• Vaginal birth
• Delivery positions
• Episiotomy
• C-section
• Vaginal birth after c-section

Special Feature

Four parents tell their stories of the Delivery Day

After Delivery

• Your baby's first day
• Apgar test
• Circumcision

See more about:
Placenta Delivery animation

Special Delivery Situations

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Breech birth and other positions
• Group B strep
• Membrane breaks prematurely
• Passing your due date - what happens?
• Abruptio placentae (detached placenta)
• Placenta previa (placenta blocks cervix)
• Multiple birth pregnancies

Review Date: 10/22/2008

Reviewed By: Peter J. Chen, MD, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.