Vaginal Delivery

A routine vaginal delivery is usually performed once a pregnancy becomes full term. This is usually between the 37th and 42nd weeks of pregnancy. In most cases, the cervix begins to dilate and efface in the days and weeks leading up to delivery. Labor may begin on its own, or an obstetrician may induce labor by rupturing the amniotic sac or administering labor-inducing drugs. Labor may last from a few minutes to many hours, during which time a laboring woman’s obstetrician can offer pain management options. When the cervix dilates to

Prenatal care begins with the confirmation of pregnancy – usually using a urine test that screens for elevated levels of the pregnancy hormone, hCG. A physical exam and blood testing may follow, as well as a doctor-patient interview about past pregnancies and family history. Often, routine check-ups to monitor the growth and health of the fetus and the mother continue once every four weeks for the first two trimesters and once every two weeks for the final trimester.