Labour and delivery

7 Things You Need to Know About Your Second Pregnancy

7 Things You Need to Know About Your Second Pregnancy

Does it really get easier each time? Here’s what to expect during your second pregnancy, including if your labour will really be shorter.

Kate Winn

I was so judgy about home birth—until I accidentally had one

I was so judgy about home birth—until I accidentally had one

I had always been adamant: I didn’t want to give birth at home. But 18 hours into labour, I changed my mind and had an unplanned home birth.

Chantel Guertin

As an Indigenous woman, I was scared to have my baby in a hospital

As an Indigenous woman, I was scared to have my baby in a hospital

The same systems and professionals that make white people feel safe—medical care, the police, social workers—have been genocidal in practice against my people for generations.

Andrea Landry

After an explosive birth, I found relief in the weirdest place

After an explosive birth, I found relief in the weirdest place

Overwhelmed doesn’t begin to describe how I felt during those first few weeks as a new mom. My iPhone’s autocorrect was oddly comforting.

Natalie Stechyson

This new term for C-sections gives power back to moms

This new term for C-sections gives power back to moms

C-section moms are tired of being told Caesareans are something that happen to you, but vaginal births are an accomplishment. This new term changes that.

Kristen Thompson

I was forced to give birth alone because of coronavirus

I was forced to give birth alone because of coronavirus

As coronavirus spread, the hospital told pregnant women like me that partners would not be allowed in the delivery room. I would be giving birth alone.

Laurel Ingraham Aquadro

What do contractions feel like?

What do contractions feel like?

It's probably what many pregnant women worry about: How much will labour hurt? Real moms and a doctor explain what early labour and contractions feel like.

Celia Shatzman

Nova Scotia has cancelled all home births—could it happen in other provinces?

Nova Scotia has cancelled all home births—could it happen in other provinces?

The choice to have a home birth in Canada has been thrown into question this week after the Nova Scotia government suspended midwifery-led home births.

Claire Sibonney

How to deal with hemorrhoids during pregnancy

How to deal with hemorrhoids during pregnancy

No one likes talking about hemorrhoids, but they’re super common during pregnancy. We have answers to the questions you're too embarrassed to ask.

Emily Rivas

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

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

10 postpartum conditions and symptoms to watch for after you deliver your baby

Postpartum care

10 postpartum conditions and symptoms to watch for after you deliver your baby

These conditions are pretty scary—and fairly rare—complications of childbirth, but you should never ignore these postpartum symptoms.

Jessica Leeder

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