A C-section is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby. Although having a C-section is considered a routine procedure in many hospitals, it is still major abdominal surgery that should be used only when necessary. Knowing how the procedure is done, asking your doctor questions ahead of time, and preparing for the big day can eliminate most fear and anxiety.

Cesarean sections, or C-sections, are major surgical procedures that are performed either in an emergency or planned because of abnormalities or risks with vaginal births. Whether you are planning to have the C-section well in advance or it's a last-minute option, you should have a plan to have the delivery you want.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that more than 1 in 5 births are medically induced in the hospital, a process that could cause problems in delivery. If you're ready to bring your baby into the world, you could try to induce labor naturally while having sex. Though some doctors disagree about whether sex can induce labor, other doctors--and years of folk wisdom--believe that it works. Go into labor using the same methods that you used to get pregnant.

While menstrual cramps, labor and pregnancy are all related to the reproductive system, several key facts distinguish these three phases of a woman's life. Also, in some cases, what feels like menstrual cramps or appears to be the signs of menstruation actually indicate pregnancy, according to the March of Dimes and the American Pregnancy Association. Learning how to differentiate between menstrual pain, ordinary pregnancy pain, potentially serious pregnancy pain and impending labor can give you the tools needed to get prompt medical help if needed.

For most women, labor is the big moment. You have been waiting close to nine months for it, and it is the last thing separating you from holding your baby in your arms. Just like every pregnancy can be different, so can every labor. The natural process of delivering your baby may take less time--or more time--than you may think.

All it takes is one embarrassing rush to the hospital to convince you to wait until you are really in labor. As the baby is moving and growing and your body endures pain and discomfort, the sensations might overwhelm you. If you know the signs, you can prepare yourself for real labor. When you feel a combination of these signs, get ready to race to the hospital.

Now that the initial excitement of being pregnant and wanting to welcome your new baby into the world has subsided, you may be experiencing that next common pregnant emotion of fear. Fear of just how the baby is going to come out. This fear happens to new moms and experienced moms, as every labor and delivery experience is different. You can conquer this fear and take steps throughout your pregnancy to increase the chances that your labor will be easy and a positive experience.

In contrast to the feelings of elation many women experience when they find out they are pregnant is the fear of early labor. Early labor, also know as premature or preterm labor, occurs prior to 37 weeks gestation before the fetus is full term. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 8 babies in the United States is born premature each year. Preterm birth is the leading cause of infant mortality, so it's especially important to recognize its signs and symptoms.

You knew it would happen eventually. After many months, you arrive at the end of your pregnancy. Thoughts of labor and delivery may preoccupy your mind during the final weeks of your pregnancy. Although you may have your baby's name picked out, his nursery decorated and your hospital bag packed, you may wonder how your labor will progress, once it begins. Knowing what to expect during your labor can help you understand what your body and your baby are going through during this exciting time.

As your due date approaches, you're probably looking for some signs that your baby is ready to come out and meet the world. This is doubly true if it's your first baby and you're not quite sure what to expect. There are a number of signs that your body is going into labor, but you need to prepare to have a few false alarms before the day actually arrives.