If your contractions come regularly every 5 to 10 minutes, it's time to call your doctor. Watch for signs like your water breaking or bloody vaginal discharge, which indicate labor might be starting.

Here's what happens during each stage of labor – from how long each stage lasts to what you might feel. Labor happens in three stages — early labor and dilation, pushing and delivery, and finally, ...

PIEZO1 transcripts in human uterine muscle at term. Green indicates smooth muscle fibers in the uterus, red marks PIEZO1 mRNA, and blue shows cell nuclei. LA JOLLA, CA—When labor begins, the uterus ...

Childbirth depends not just on hormones, but on the uterus’s ability to sense physical force. Scientists found that pressure ...

Molecular discoveries may help improve treatments for labor and pain. When labor starts, the uterus must produce steady, ...

Not all early contractions mean labor. Learn what preterm labor looks like, and when to call your provider to keep you and your baby safe.