Anatomy of Childbirth

  • By Rima Chaddha
  • Posted 05.13.08
  • NOVA

Bringing a baby into the world should always be a joyous occasion, and in areas with good medical care, it usually is. But in developing countries, particularly in poor villages far from healthcare, childbirth is too often fraught with life-threatening hazards. In this feature, follow the stages of normal labor and delivery, and learn about the risks as well as treatments to cope with them.

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Review the stages of labor and delivery as well as some of the risks women face giving birth.

Note: This feature is not meant to be comprehensive. For more complete details on the birthing process, please see the National Institute of Health's MedlinePlus: Childbirth.

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(all illustrations)
© NOVA/WGBH Educational Foundation

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