Family Birth Center - Mercy Medical Center - Redding, CA

Breastfeeding is the process of feeding a mother's breast milk to her infant, either directly from the breast or by bottle-feeding it to the infant.

Labor and delivery is the process a woman's body goes through to deliver a baby. Labor is made up of three stages. The first stage involves contractions and the dilation of the cervix. The second stage, or active stage, involves pushing and the birth of the baby. The third stage involves the delivery of the placenta

Laceration specialists are doctors who specialize in the treatment of laceration wounds. This includes the cleaning and preparation of the wound and the use of steri-strips, dermabond, staples, and stitches to close the wound and promote healing.

Maternal childe education classes are classes that are designed for expectant mothers, fathers, and anyone else who will be caring for a newborn or infant. In the class you will learn a range of topics, such as the basics of baby care, infant health and safety, and how to care for fussy infants.

A maternity clinic is a facility that is designed specifically to provide care for women during pregnancy and childbirth. Care for newborns is typically provided and the facility can also provide a clinical training environment for obstetrics and midwifery.

A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a special care nursery designed to care for newborns born at an early gestational age or full-term infants that require close monitoring or intravenous antibiotics after birth.

Braxton hicks contractions are sporadic contractions and relaxation of the uterine muscle. They are referred to as prodromal pains.

Labor and delivery is the process a woman's body goes through to deliver a baby. Labor is made up of three stages. The first stage involves contractions and the dilation of the cervix. The second stage, or active stage, involves pushing and the birth of the baby. The third stage involves the delivery of the placenta.

Postpartum is the term used for the period of time that occurs right after childbirth. This is a time when postpartum care is required for both mother and baby and when postpartum depression can occur in some mothers.

Contractions cause the cervix to thin and dilate and they help the baby to pass through the birth canal.