Anatomy of Childbirth

When a mother brings a baby into the world, it should always be a joyous occasion. In developed nations like the United States, it usually is. But in developing countries, particularly in poor villages far from proper medical care, childbirth can be fraught with life-threatening hazards. The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 529,000 women die each year from problems related to childbirth, and the number of babies that are stillborn is even higher. In this feature, follow the stages of normal labor and delivery, and learn about potential problems that can arise as well as treatments used to cope with them.—Rima Chaddha

Note: This feature is not meant to be comprehensive. For more complete details on the birthing process, please see the National Institute of Health's MedlinePlus: Childbirth.

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