Pregnancy Condition Center | Giving birth | Birth

Skip to main content


	Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond Skip section navigation Beginnings First trimester Second trimester Third trimester For dads and partners Preparing for labor Preparing for your baby Giving birth Birth and after birth Your baby Your hospital stay Your recovery at home Your newborn Newborn feeding Also available in print or as a mobile app Special topics Breastfeeding quiz Gestational Diabetes: When you have diabetes during pregnancy Guide for the Care of Children: Ages birth to 5 Postpartum depression: Rachel's story Pregnancy tips Help prevent gas in babies Feed the infant slowly. More health tips... Allina services Pregnancy care Classes and support groups OB Homecare Resources for pregnancy, labor, birth and parenting Birth The childbirth process Show animation transcript. Cervix thins and dilates during labor. As your baby moves through your pelvis, her head usually rotates to face your spine. As your uterus pushes your baby through your pelvis, her head begins to show, or "crown." After most of your baby's head is born, her shoulders move through your pelvis and she begins to rotate again. After your baby's head and shoulders are born, the rest of her body slips out. How to tell if you're in labor When to call your health care provider Timing contractions Reporting that you're in labor Stages of labor What happens during the first stage of labor At the hospital Positions for labor and birth Dealing with back pain Techniques for pushing and birth To the labor companion Pain medicine Procedures during labor What happens during the second stage of labor What happens during the third stage of labor Cesarean birth After giving birth Your recovery