Giving Birth - Everything You Need to Know - Motherly
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Birth

It’s go time, mama! Whether you’re counting down the days or trying to plan ahead, learn more about giving birth with advice and essays from real mamas.

pregnant woman walking down the street - curb walking to induce labor

Does curb walking induce labor? Here’s what experts want you to know

An OB-GYN and a midwife offer details on curb walking—including when to start and how to do it safely.

Updated Jul. 05, 2024

This is birth: A hospital birth during a pandemic

With her husband by her side capturing every moment, this brave mama…

Updated May. 03, 2023
pregnant woman applying cream to her belly - preterm birth linked to chemicals

Researchers find a chemical link that could help predict the risk of preterm birth

The existence of certain chemicals found in the vagina may be linked to a higher risk for preterm birth.

Updated Oct. 31, 2023
Pregnant Kaley Cuoco walks red carpet for 2023 Golden Globes

Kaley Cuoco’s birth plan is ‘no birth plan,’ and honestly—good for her

Kaley Cuoco and her boyfriend Tom Pelphrey are expecting their first baby together.

Updated Mar. 02, 2023
pregnant woman doing a meditation on the floor - what is hypnobirthing

Curious about hypnobirthing? An expert explains what you need to know

It's all about focusing on positive messages and affirmations around birth to help you feel relaxed, confident and in control.

Updated Feb. 22, 2023
Brazilian nurse and baby- woman gives birth to 16 lb baby

Brazilian mom gives birth to 16 lb baby—’didn’t expect this surprise’

"Most babies who are born full-term weight between 6-9 lbs."

Updated Feb. 10, 2023
mom giving her newborn baby a kiss- nicu baby experience

I’m a Black mom, and I had to advocate differently for my NICU baby

Due to the history of the increased mortality rate of Black mothers during childbirth, we had to take every precaution.

Updated Sep. 05, 2024
pregnant woman doing yoga poses to induce labor at home

Try these 4 yoga poses to induce labor—safely

Ready to get things moving? Experts say these yoga poses can help.

Updated Feb. 01, 2023
young-girl-looking-over-her-baby-sister - do second babies come earlier?

Do second babies come earlier? Here’s what you need to know about the second time around

The good news is that your second labor may be only half as long.

Updated Jan. 22, 2024
mother in hospital kissing premature baby shows what it's like having a premature baby

I’m a preemie mom—5 things I wish I knew before my shocking delivery

My delivery taught me the first and potentially most crucial lesson of parenting: expect the unexpected.

Updated Oct. 26, 2023
group-of-pregnant-women-talking - what to expect during labor for first-time moms

6 expert tips on how to prepare for your first birth

2. Babies don't always follow birth plans, and that's OK.

Updated Jan. 31, 2023
mom burping newborn - guide to c-section swelling

C-section swelling may be common, but is it normal to swell above the incision?

Here's how to tell if swelling is normal or a sign of infection.

Updated Jan. 31, 2023
mother embracing newborn baby after c-section, representing the latest step in the history of the c-section

A brief history of the C-section

‘House of the Dragon’ highlights the fact that C-sections used to look very different from how they look today.

Updated Nov. 09, 2022
mom and newborn

No doula? No problem—experts share how to advocate for yourself during pregnancy

Yes, you can still advocate for yourself, even without a doula.

Updated Jan. 23, 2023
baby being held by doctors after mom's positive c-section experience

How to have a positive birth experience with a C-section

Together with my doctor, we created a plan for my C-section to become the birth experience I wanted it to be. 

Updated Oct. 03, 2022
premature birth: mom with newborn

Why my twins’ premature birth still haunts me

I held the twins for the first time when they were one day old.

Updated Apr. 11, 2022
woman embracing her pregnant belly

An overlooked tool in pregnancy and birth? Breathwork

Let’s get back to the inhale, exhale, mama.

Updated Nov. 10, 2022
tokophobia: pregnant woman holding baby bump at home in bed

Dreading pregnancy or childbirth? It may be tokophobia 

Fear of giving birth can exist on a spectrum, but tokophobia is a rare, severe form. It may cause some women to elect for a C-section or avoid pregnancy altogether.

Updated Nov. 10, 2022
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