Ask the Pros
Birth Plans
Birth Stories
Bookstore
Boy or Girl
Cesareans
Chat Room
Complications
Doulas
Educators
Episiotomy
FAQs
Feeding Baby
Fertility
Finding a Class
Health
Interactive
Labor
Message Board
Monitoring
Newborns
Postcards
Postpartum
Pregnancy
Reviews/Awards
Search
VBAC
Week by Week

Ask A Childbirth Educator
Questions and Answer

Medications for Labor

Is it medication or labor that makes you throw up?
Is it true epidurals cause back problems?

Cesareans

I'm only 5 feet tall, will I have to have a cesarean?

Labor

What if I give birth before getting to the hospital?
My first two babies were posterior, will my third be as well?
What about episiotomy versus tearing?
Can you tell the difference between Braxton-Hicks contractions and real labor?
Once the baby has dropped, how long until labor?
If it's not your first pregnancy and the baby drops, how long until labor?
What do I pack for labor?

Getting Labor Started

Is there anything I can do to speed things along?
What is stripping membranes and does it work?
Does pitocin make contractions more painful?
I lost my mucous plug three days ago, how long until my water breaks?
How can I tell I've lost my mucous plug?
Can I still have sex after I've lost my mucous plug?

Forceps and Vacuums

How safe are forceps and vacuums?

Breech Babies

How can I turn a breech baby and could I have it vaginally?

Karen Klimsak-Ungar, CCE has been a certified childbirth educator for Birth Works® since 1996. She is currently Managing Editor for the Birth Works newsletter, sits on the Birth Works Board of Directors, and serves on their National Trainee Review Committee. A happily married mother of two, she also continues to teach Birth Works classes as well as private classes.

Karen will answer your questions on fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and babies. Her advice does not take the place of your practitioner. Personal answers will not always be possible.