Pregnancy
10 articles in this category.
When Does Labor Actually Start? Signs, Stages, and Timing
Labor starts when uterine contractions become regular and cause cervical change. Here's how to tell the difference between false alarms and the real thing.
Read moreHow Accurate Is Your Due Date? What the Research Actually Shows
Only 4-5% of babies arrive on their due date. Here's what the research says about how accurate EDD calculations really are — and what that means for you.
Read moreFirst Baby vs Second Baby: How Labor Timing Differs
Second labors average 3 days earlier and hours shorter than first. Here's what the data shows about how labor timing and duration differ between first and subsequent births.
Read moreGoing Past Your Due Date: What to Expect at 40, 41, and 42 Weeks
About 50% of first-time mothers deliver after their due date. Here's what "overdue" actually means clinically, what monitoring involves, and when induction is recommended.
Read more7 Signs Labor Is Coming in the Next 48 Hours
Bloody show, regular contractions, water breaking, and 4 other signs that labor may start within 48 hours — plus the 5-1-1 rule for when to go to the hospital.
Read moreWhat Affects When You Go Into Labor? 6 Key Factors Explained
Parity, cervical length, BMI, maternal age, fetal sex, and stress all influence labor timing. Here's what the research actually says about each.
Read moreInduced vs. Spontaneous Labor: Timing, Risks, and What to Expect
ACOG recommends offering induction at 39-41 weeks. Here's how induction works, what the ARRIVE trial found, and how induced labor differs from spontaneous.
Read moreLabor Probability by Week: The Statistics Behind When Babies Arrive
Week 39 is the single busiest delivery week, but 26% of first-time mothers are still pregnant at 40+0. Here's the actual data table — and what it means.
Read moreCervical Dilation and Labor Progress: A Plain-Language Guide
Dilation from 0 to 6 cm can take days. From 6 to 10 cm typically takes 1-3 hours in active labor. Here's what each number actually means.
Read moreThird Trimester Prep: What to Do in the Final 4 Weeks
Weeks 36-40 each have specific tasks: GBS testing, car seat installation, hospital bag, birth plan. Here's the week-by-week checklist with specifics.
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