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Pregnancy

Giving birth

What are the signs of labour? What’s a c-section like? And what if your home birth doesn’t go to plan? Learn what you need to know about giving birth

So you're about to give birth in a coronavirus pandemic

So you're about to give birth in a coronavirus pandemic

Pregnant women have many questions about how coronavirus will change their labour and delivery. We took those questions to top Canadian experts.

Claire Sibonney

Do you need a vagina mirror during labour?

Do you need a vagina mirror during labour?

Commonly offered by midwives and other care providers, a birth mirror can be an incredible motivational tool to check your progress during labour.

Andrea Karr

We're just gonna say it: You will definitely poop during labour

We're just gonna say it: You will definitely poop during labour

It’s 100 percent normal for women to poop while they're pushing out a baby. So can we all stop being terrified about it now?

Claire Sibonney

It's time we all stop apologizing for our pubic hair during labour

It's time we all stop apologizing for our pubic hair during labour

Doctors, nurses and midwives deal with vulvas and vaginas all day long, and trust us—they literally don't care AT ALL if you look “cleaned up” down there.

Claire Sibonney

What is obstetric violence—and could it have happened to you?

What is obstetric violence—and could it have happened to you?

Here’s how Canadian birth activists are working to end obstetric violence and guarantee consent, communication and respect during your prenatal care.

Sahar Fatima

These are the weirdest things we’ve EVER done (or demanded) during labour

These are the weirdest things we’ve EVER done (or demanded) during labour

From frantically sewing a Halloween costume to eating the equivalent of eight large McDonald’s fries, here are some of bonkers things moms do during labour.

Claire Sibonney

Giving birth on your babymoon is the worst-case scenario—and it happened to me

Giving birth on your babymoon is the worst-case scenario—and it happened to me

Planning to travel during your pregnancy? I gave birth while on my babymoon in another country—and it was a medical and logistical nightmare.

Kelly Shaw

Why do North American women give birth in bed?

Why do North American women give birth in bed?

This OB/GYN attended thousands of deliveries before he began to wonder why so many North Americans tended to give birth in bed.

Neel Shah

'Pregnancy brain' is real—and may help women become better moms

'Pregnancy brain' is real—and may help women become better moms

Researchers have found that the brain undergoes changes during pregnancy to help prepare for motherhood

Malcolm Ritter, The Associated Press

How my heart-shaped uterus changed my birth plan

How my heart-shaped uterus changed my birth plan

At 30 weeks pregnant, I found out I had a bicornuate uterus. All of a sudden, the home birth we'd been planning was no longer an option.

Chris Deacon

9 old wives' tales for inducing labour

9 old wives' tales for inducing labour

Past your due date and looking for natural ways to jump-start labour? Nine old-fashioned strategies that may work.

Michele Holcomb

How forceps permanently changed the way humans are born

How forceps permanently changed the way humans are born

Neel Shah

I almost died delivering my son

I almost died delivering my son

Postpartum preeclampsia is so rare, even my doctors didn’t know what was wrong with me when I fell ill after giving birth.

Ann Marie Collymore

This new celeb mom had a 33-hour labour—and her candid birth video is everything

This new celeb mom had a 33-hour labour—and her candid birth video is everything

Shay Mitchell had her baby! And the video of her 33-hour labour showed fans how intense giving birth really is.

Katherine Singh, FLARE

15 wildest celebrity birth stories

15 wildest celebrity birth stories

These celebrity moms have some pretty eventful birth stories—from giving birth in the lobby to having the doctor die the day before the due date.

Ashwini Paradkar

I didn’t want my husband in the delivery room

I didn’t want my husband in the delivery room

Two generations ago, birth was left to the mother-to-be. Now, partners are pressured to be essential guides in the process, but that may not be the best thing for all couples.

Kelly Burch

My birth wasn’t considered traumatic, and yet I’m still struggling

My birth wasn’t considered traumatic, and yet I’m still struggling

I had a healthy baby girl. What more could I ask for? But months later, I still felt distressed by the experience of giving birth.

Risa Kerslake

Extreme birth story: An unbelievably fast labour

Extreme birth story: An unbelievably fast labour

Find out what happened during one woman's unbelievably fast labour.

Jason McBride

What supplies do I need for a home birth?

What supplies do I need for a home birth?

If you're planning a home birth, or tend to have fast labours, consult this list of home birth supplies as part of your labour and delivery prep.

Today's Parent

How siblings can help during the home birth of a baby sister or brother

How siblings can help during the home birth of a baby sister or brother

This home birth was a whole-family experience: the older siblings each had a role in welcoming their new baby sister to the world.

Julie Stanley

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