Labor and Birth: Fact Sheets and Resources

Healthy Pregnancy Home > Childbirth and Beyond > Labor and Birth > Fact Sheets and Resources

Publications

1.   Pregnancy Information Center, CDC - If you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you probably have a lot of questions. This website will help you learn how to be healthy (before, during, and after pregnancy) and give your baby a healthy start to life.

   http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/pregnancy_gateway/default.htm

2. Birthing Centers and Hospital Maternity Services (Copyright © Nemours Foundation) - This on-line publication explains the types of services offered, and provides a list of questions to ask and other considerations to help parents make an informed decision.

   http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/birth_centers_hospitals.html...

3. Birthing Choices: Care Providers & Labor Locations (Copyright © APA) - This on-line publication explains the different birthing options for women. It gives the definitions and a short history of each option.

   http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/birthingchoices.html

4. Birthing Classes (Copyright © Nemours Foundation) - This article discusses the benefits of taking childbirth classes. It provides information on the types of classes that are available and how to find and choose a birthing method that is right for you and your baby.

   http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/birth_class.html

5. Breech Babies: What Can I Do if My Baby is Breech? (Copyright © AAFP) - This publication provides information on breech pregnancy: what it is, how a baby can be safely delivered, and what an external cephalic version is.

   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/labor/310.html

6. Choosing a Birthplace for Your Baby (Copyright © Great Starts) - This article provides information on the advantages and disadvantages of hospital births, home births, and birth center births. It also discusses the cost and safety of each option.

   http://www.greatstarts.org/articles_newsletter/birthplace.htm

7. Episiotomy (Copyright © University of Michigan) - This publication provides information on episiotomy, what it is, what happens during an episiotomy, what the benefits and complications of the procedure are, and when to call your doctor.

   http://www.med.umich.edu/obgyn/smartmoms/labor/delivery/episiotomy.htm

8. Having a Doula: Is a Doula for Me? (Copyright © APA) - This on-line publication provides information about doulas. It includes the definition, types, benefits, and resources for doulas.

   http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/havingadoula.html

9. How to Tell When Labor Begins (Copyright © University of Michigan) - This publication provides information on what labor is, what happens during labor, how to tell when labor is approaching, the difference between labor and false labor, and lists reasons why a woman should call her healthcare provider.

   http://www.med.umich.edu/obgyn/smartmoms/labor/labor/beginning.htm

10. Labor Induction (Copyright © AAFP) - This publication explains labor induction, what it is, why a doctor would recommend inducing labor, how doctors induce labor, the risks of the procedure and what a mother might expect from induced labor.

    http://familydoctor.org/450.xml

11. Pain Relief During Labor (Copyright © University of Michigan) - This publication provides information on the different types of pain relief available during labor and childbirth.

    http://www.med.umich.edu/obgyn/smartmoms/labor/labor/painrelief.htm

12. Pregnancy: What to Expect When Your Due Date Has Passed (Copyright © AAFP) - This fact sheet provides information on overdue pregnancy, how the due date is determined, and why your doctor may decide to induce labor, and if so, how labor is medically induced.

    http://familydoctor.org/143.xml

13. Ten Tips for a Normal Birth (Copyright © Lamaze International) - This publication provides 10 tips that are helpful to remember if you are planning a natural birth.

    http://www.lamaze.org/Default.aspx?tabid=254

14. Vaginal Birth after a Previous Cesarean Delivery (Copyright © McKesson Corporation) - This on-line fact sheet contains information on the medical factors that determine whether vaginal birth after cesarean is considered safe. Women are encouraged to discuss this issue with their doctors.

    http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/wha/wha_vbac_crs.htm

15. VBAC: Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (Copyright © APA) - This on-line publication provides information about vaginal birth after a cesarean. It provides information about VBAC and the risk for a uterine rupture, the criteria to be considered for a VBAC, and what would make you a good candidate for VBAC.

    http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/vbac.html

16. Water Birth (Copyright © APA) - This on-line publication provides an explanation about water births. It also includes the potential benefits of water birth as well as the risks for mom and baby.

    http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/waterbirth.html

Organizations

1. American Association of Birth Centers
2. American College of Nurse-Midwives
3. Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
4. Baby-Friendly USA
5. Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS)
6. DONA International
7. Lamaze International
8. Midwives' Alliance of North America

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of March 2007