Labor and delivery
Baby is almost here and it's time to start preparing for labor and delivery. Here's some guidance from Ovia as you get ready to meet your little one!
![Woman and man are handed their baby after a C-section](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CsectionRecovery-500x334.jpg)
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Identifying a hospital with a lower C-section rate
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Giving birth | Types of birth
Home birth
![woman practices yoga](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Interested-in-prenatal-yoga_-Start-here-500x334.jpg)
Staying healthy while pregnant | Exercise while pregnant
Interested in prenatal yoga? Start here
![Pregnant woman sits on yoga ball](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Prenatal-exercise-movement-FAQ-500x334.jpg)
Staying healthy while pregnant | Exercise while pregnant
Prenatal exercise & movement FAQ
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Building a birth team
![Pregnant woman with eyes closed reclines with headphones on](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Preg_Anxiety-about-labor-and-motherhood--500x334.jpg)
Life during pregnancy
How to manage anxiety about labor and motherhood
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Doulas: Why it’s important to find one who really gets you
![Woman and man are handed their baby after a C-section](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CsectionRecovery-500x334.jpg)
Giving birth
C-section recovery timeline
![Pregnant woman has her stomach felt by a provider](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/EmergencyCSection-500x334.jpg)
Giving birth
What happens during a C-section
![a woman lies on her back with her hand on her baby bump](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Preg-What-is-perineal-massage_--500x334.jpg)
Pregnancy by week | Third trimester
What is perineal massage?
![A woman looks down at her phone while holding her baby bump](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Preg-What-you-should-know-about-vaginal-perineal-tears--500x334.jpg)
What you should know about vaginal and perineal tears
![Picture of toilet](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/toilet-500x334.jpeg)
Giving birth | Postpartum care
Using the bathroom after a vaginal delivery
![](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BHM_22_7ReasonsBirthPlan-500x334.jpg)
Giving birth
6 reasons why you should write a birth plan
![](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_111333_labor_and_delivery-500x334.jpg)
Staying healthy while pregnant | Prenatal Testing & Screening
COVID-19, labor, and delivery: Your questions answered
![celebrating Black birth workers of the past](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_112680_2Article_Celebrating-500x334.jpg)
Celebrating Black birth workers of the past
![Seven doulas you should know](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_112684_Article_Doulas_2_1-500x334.jpg)
For Black families, change is coming one doula at a time
![Four midwives you should know](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_112727_Article_Midwives2_1-500x334.jpg)
Meet 4 midwives dedicated to evolving the Black maternal landscape
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Giving birth
The comfort of crafting a birth plan
![Pregnant woman experiencing back pain/cramps](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10151-500x334.jpg)
Signs of premature labor
![pregnant woman in labor](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10153-500x334.jpg)
Labor and delivery options: finding the perfect one
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What does unmedicated birth feel like?
![pregnant woman packing her hospital bag](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10340-500x334.jpg)
Packing a delivery bag
![expecting couple sitting on couch](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10157-500x334.jpg)
How to induce labor
![pregnant woman with doctor](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10384-500x334.jpg)
Stages of labor
![doctor checking on pregnant woman](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_15028-500x334.jpg)
When do healthcare providers induce overdue babies?
![pregnant person holding their belly](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ArticleHeader_Signs-of-labor-500x334.jpg)
Prepare for labor
![medical symbol](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10243-500x334.jpg)
Bloody show/passing of mucus plug when pregnant
![expecting couple walking](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10380-500x334.jpg)
Preparing your partner for delivery
![pregnant women at outdoors lamaze class](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10528-500x334.jpg)
Giving birth | Types of birth
Lamaze method of childbirth
![baby hospital cots](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_105048-500x334.jpg)
Giving birth | Types of birth
Pros and cons of different delivery locations
![boy kissing mom's pregnant stomach](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_100982-500x334.jpg)
Does labor change from birth to birth?
![pregnant woman holding stomach](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_103459-500x334.jpg)
Mindful pregnancy and delivery
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Big decisions to make before giving birth
![pregnant woman on couch](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_15027-500x334.jpg)
Things to do while waiting to go to the hospital
![pregnant woman in bed](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10338-500x334.jpg)
Episiotomy: what is it?
![woman in hospital bed with newborn](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10339-500x334.jpg)
Baby’s first minutes
![pregnant woman in hospital bed](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10150-500x334.jpg)
Labor pain control: a little relief
![doctor checking pregnant woman's stomach](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10174-500x334.jpg)
Your dilating cervix: gateway to Baby
![Woman in nursery packing hospital bag](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_104316-500x334.jpg)
Unexpected items to pack in your hospital bag
![women in birthing class](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10141-500x334.jpg)
Childbirth classes: preparing for labor
![Pregnant woman on hospital bed](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_110109-500x334.jpg)
Don’t put “9-1-1” in the subject line of your emails, and other lessons: One dad on his family’s early labor story and just what constitutes an emergency
![](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10527_article_10527-500x334.jpg)
Giving birth | Types of birth
The Bradley Method of childbirth
![](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_111786-500x334.jpg)
How to advocate for yourself as a patient to get the care you deserve
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Staying healthy while pregnant
Why bringing a support person with you to appointments can help you advocate for the best healthcare
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How a doula can support you during pregnancy and postpartum
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How culturally relevant care can help you thrive during pregnancy, and beyond
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Why personalized care is so important for birthing parents
![](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_111793-500x334.jpg)
Staying healthy while pregnant
Don’t settle: Finding a healthcare provider for your pregnancy
![](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_111791-500x334.jpg)
Staying healthy while pregnant
How working with a midwife can help reduce health disparities
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Building a birth team
![article_15021.jpg](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_15021-500x334.jpg)
Giving birth
Making your child a legal person
![article_15024.jpg](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_15024-500x334.jpg)
Pregnancy by week
8 ways to keep busy when you’re overdue
![Woman standing at the sink in pain](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_110676-500x334.jpg)
Staying healthy while pregnant | Pregnancy complications
What to do if you think you’re going into preterm labor
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Pain medication options during labor and delivery
![Pregnant woman speaking with doctor](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_105846-500x334.jpg)
How effective is progesterone for preventing preterm birth?
![Woman getting an ultrasound](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_110677-500x334.jpg)
Am I at risk for preterm labor?
![Woman standing at the sink in pain](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_110676-500x334.jpg)
What to do if you think you’re going into preterm labor
![“pregnant](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10342-500x334.jpg)
Your guide to epidurals
![doula sitting with woman in delivery room](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10164.png)
Giving birth
What’s a doula, and how do they help?
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Things no one tells you about having a baby (that I tell all my first-time mom friends)
![article_15030.jpg](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_15030-500x334.jpg)
When do I actually need to go to the hospital/birthing center?
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Natural methods to manage your pain in labor
![newborn baby lying in an incubator](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10152.png)
Staying healthy while pregnant | Prenatal Testing & Screening
Premature births
![newborn baby holding father's finger](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_10526.png)
Giving birth | Types of birth
C-sections 101
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Pregnancy by week | Third trimester
Calculating Baby’s due date
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Midwives: What they do and what you need to know
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What does “inducing labor” actually mean?
![](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_100984-500x333.jpg)
What is a birthing center?
![](https://assets.oviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/article_100983-500x334.jpg)
Help! I’m not sure I’m ready to give birth
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