What to Expect mom Amber E. is in her second trimester and starting to think about her plan for labor and delivery. "As a first-time mom, I don't know what I like or want,” she writes to the WTE First ...

In between deciding on nursery colors, which brand of stroller to buy and whether you want to breastfeed, it can be helpful to give some thought to your labor and delivery experience. Sharing a birth ...

At the core, birth plans are a way to look “at your expectations, your fears, your needs, and your coping strategies,” Rubin says. And while “birth” is in the name, expecting parents should use them ...

There were more than 50,000 home births in the United States last year. That marked the highest total since at least 1990 and a 12% increase from 2020. Though home births are becoming more common, ...

Getting a solid prenatal education is step one to planning a natural childbirth. Seek out classes that include how labor and birth work, as well as natural labor pain management techniques like ...

The birth plan. It’s simple enough in theory: A birth plan is essentially a means by which you can outline your wants and desires for your labor and birth experience. But do a quick Google search and ...

This story is part of SELF's ongoing series exploring black maternal mortality. You can find the rest of the series here. I welcomed the opportunity to plan for my ideal birth, but I knew early on ...