Most women experience significant pain during labor and birth, and most American women want and expect to receive some form of pharmacologic pain relief. Epidurals are the most effective method.

Once thought to be a beneficial procedure that would make birth easier for the baby and protect the mother from trauma to the birth canal, episiotomy has been found in study after study to be more harmful than beneficial except in a few cases.  Yet, it continues to be practiced routinely in many hospitals in the U.S. and around the world. 

Yes, you can exercise when you're pregnant. It is both safe and beneficial. Studies show that women who keep up their exercise routine or who start one while pregnant, recover more quickly from the birth.

About half of pregnant women will experience some nausea and/or vomiting related to their pregnancy.

Newborns are a miracle. We fall in love with them so fast, which is a good thing, because they can be a lot of work and a lot of worry.

The relaxation and pain-relieving benefits of water are well-known; many women who have had babies in and out of water will attest to this.

You need to find out as much as you can about what to expect during labor and birth.  A good childbirth educator is an invaluable resource during your pregnancy.

This information is a part of The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative written for health care providers.  A group of experts in birthing care came up with this list of 10 things to look for and ask about. Medical research supports all of these things. These are also the best ways to be mother-friendly.

Hypnosis has played a part in obstetrics since around the 1930's. It is not used only with the labor and the birth but also for many problems in the pregnancy such as morning sickness, backaches, insomnia, and fatigue.

Thirty-six million minority women in this country have more health problems but access fewer health services than white women.  During no time is this difference more pronounced or more important than during pregnancy and childbirth.