When you hear the word contractions, you likely think about the first stages of labor when the uterus tightens and dilates the cervix. But if you’ve been pregnant, you might know that there are many ...

Labor contractions are the physical way your uterus tightens to promote delivery of your baby. All body muscles tighten and shorten (contract) when they’re being used. And the uterus is one of the ...

What Are the Stages of Labor? Labor is the body’s natural process of childbirth. It lasts on average 12 to 24 hours for a first birth. Usually, labor is shorter for births after that. Labor happens in ...

Jessica Migala has been a health, fitness, and nutrition writer for almost 15 years. She has contributed to more than 40 print and digital publications, including Health and Runner's World. Jessica ...