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Narrator: In the weeks before birth, your body slows down production of the hormone progesterone while increasing production of other hormones - including prostaglandins, which soften the cervix, and oxytocin, which triggers the uterine muscles to contract.

True labor contractions are rhythmic and painful, and grow consistently stronger. As the long vertical muscle bands of the uterus tighten, they pull the cervix open. The strong muscles at the top of the uterus push down and release, guiding your baby toward the cervix.

The mucus plug, a collection of thickened cervical mucus that's sealed your cervix shut for nine months, may be expelled days before or in the midst of labor.

When the amniotic sac ruptures, your water has broken. It can feel like a trickle or a gush of fluid.

Your cervix will begin opening and thinning, known as dilation and effacement.

Once you reach about 4 centimeters, your body will move into active labor.

In active labor, contractions become stronger and closer together. At 8 centimeters, you enter what many consider the most painful part of labor - transition.

By 10 centimeters, you're fully dilated and may feel the urge to push. This is your signal that the second stage of labor has begun.

Your baby will move down with each contraction. The three separate soft bones of his head will temporarily overlap so he can pass through the snug birth canal.

Your baby's scalp will come into view. When the widest part of his head is visible, your baby is "crowning." With several more pushes, your baby's face, shoulders, and body will emerge.

In the third and final stage of labor, your placenta detaches and is expelled.

With your baby's first breath, the incredible journey of birth is complete.

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Inside pregnancy: Labor and birth | Video | BabyCenter

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Narrator: In the weeks before birth, your body slows down production of the hormone progesterone while increasing production of other hormones - including prostaglandins, which soften the cervix, and oxytocin, which triggers the uterine muscles to contract. True labor contractions are rhythmic and painful, and grow consistently stronger.

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First your baby's will have a few checks and examinations in the first hours of their life.

The first is Apgar Score which your doctor will do 5 mins after your baby's born.

About an hour after birth your doctor will weigh your baby, check their temperature, and measure the circumference of their head

after the doctor checks your baby's head, ears, eyes, mouth, heart,lungs, genitals, skin, hands and feet, spine, hips, reflexes and hearing.

then the doctor will do a "Heel-prick" test. This happens five to eight days after birth, the doctor takes a tiny amount of blood out the baby's heel to test for the following:

-An enzyme deficiency, called phenylketonuria (PKU)

-Cystic fibrosis, which affects the lungs and digestive system

-MCADD, a rare condition that affects the way the body converts fat into energy

-Sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder

-A thyroid eficiency

Homocystinuria, a rare inherited metabolic disorder

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Getting enough sleep

-Sleep when your baby sleeps

-Keep your bed near your baby's crib to make night feedings easier

-allow someone else to feed the baby with a bottle while you sleep

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Eating right

-Avoid high-fat snacks

-foucus on eating low-fat foods that balance protein, carbohydrates, and fruits and vegtbles

-drink plenty of fluids like water/juice

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Vaginal care. New mothers may experience

-Vaginal soreness: if you had a tear during delivery

-Urination problems: such as pain or frequent urge to urinate

-Discharge: including small blood clots

-Contractions: during the first few days after delivery

-Schedule checkps with your doctor about six weeks after delivery

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Your cervix starts to change.

Your water breaks.

Your mucus plug or notice "bloody show"

- Your may pass your muscus plug, i is the small amount of thickened mucus thickened mucus that has sealed your cervical canal during the last nine months

You notice more Braxton Hicks contractions

- These contractions become relatively painful and strike as often as every ten to 20 mins.

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"Your baby's Drops"

-This is also know as "Lightening". A few weeks before labor starts. You might feel a sens of heaviness in your pelvis and noticing less pressure to your rib-cage, making it easier to catch your breath