One of the best ways to learn about the birthing process is to take a childbirth education class. Most women take the classes in their third trimester of pregnancy.
Preterm labor is labor that starts before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Labor is when the uterus regularly tightens and the cervix starts to thin and open. This lets the baby (fetus) enter the birth canal.
NICUs provide specialized care for the tiniest patients. NICUs may also have intermediate or continuing care areas for babies who are not as sick but do need specialized nursing care.
Baby's Almost Here: Managing Risks as You Approach Delivery
This video will illustrate the importance of prenatal education in reaching the full 40-weeks of pregnancy. It will explain the importance of maintaining a proper diet and nutrition, avoiding alcohol, drugs and cigarette smoke and controlling weight gain during pregnancy. It will provide guidance on natural, spontaneous labor that includes getting regular, prenatal checks, knowing warning signs to watch for and understanding the optimal window for brain and respiratory development. In addition, the program will discuss the dangers of using medications to induce labor, including long-term difficulties for children who are born pre-term, encouraging women to accept help and try to enjoy their pregnancies.