Reported in an article by KJ Dell'Antonia in the New York Times on April 2, "births during the last decade take longer than they did in the early 1960s — 2.6 hours longer for women having their first baby, and a little less than two hours longer for women who have given birth before."

Dr. Alice Dreger writes in the April 2012 issue of The Atlantic, "If you look at scientific literature, you find over and over again that many interventions increase risk to mother and child instead of decreasing it."

From Medscape Medical News; Home Birth Study Findings Raise Controversy, by Emma Hitt, PhD July 16, 2010 — A meta-analysis of studies comparing planned home births vs hospital births reported that home births may be associated with an increased neonatal mortality rate; however, the study findings are controversial and have received criticism.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Pregnant women who have a cesarean delivery appear to be more likely to suffer a stroke during the following year than women who give birth normally, researchers in Taiwan have shown.

As an expectant mother approaching your due date, a concern that looms large in your mind is the pain that you will experience during labor. Will you be able to cope?

Shoulder dystocia refers to the situation when, after the baby's head emerges from the vagina, the shoulders fail to follow easily, either on their own with the mother's pushing, or with some gentle assistance from the midwife or doctor.

Here is a thoughtful response from Mary Knauer, CNM.

As many midwives have found, a doula can be an invaluable resource to a laboring woman and to a new mother.  A doula is a professionally-trained supportive companion for a woman in labor.

The "birthing ball" is a wonderful comfort tool for pregnancy and labor.