Afterpain refers to the cramp like pain a woman has during first few days after childbirth. The uterus of the woman expands during delivery and after childbirth uterus needs to return to the pre-pregnancy size and shape and thus it contracts causing strong to mild pain. Some women may feel these contractions, while others will not.

Particularly used during vaginal births, an episiotomy is a surgical incision (cut) made in the perineum - the area between the vagina and the anus - to enlarge the vaginal opening of the mother just before a baby is born.

A non-hereditary blemish present on the skin at time of birth or developed soon afterwards, is called a birthmark. Mostly harmless, birthmarks can be purely cosmetic and may tend to fade off with age or shrink over time, although some can be signs of a greater problem.

Bringing your new baby home can be a scary thing especially for first time parents. Do you have everything in place? What if something goes wrong? How will you manage? Perhaps the list can be endless. But one can feel more comfortable and confident if you are better prepared for the arrival of the baby. Here are a few suggestions to prepare your trip back home with your little one.

Caring for one child is daunting enough for many new parents and the prospect of having two at the same time can be a real jolt. Though, watching twins develop is not only double the fun, it’s also double the hard work. There are two to bathe, two to feed, two to burp, two to love, two to play with and two to smile at. So at times it can be Double trouble!!

All parents especially mothers feel that the parenting starts only when the baby is born. But, it’s a misnomer; parenting does not start once a child is born. It begins by caring about what you eat, how much sleep and exercise you get and understanding about the stress and responsibilities that come with parenthood.

Motherhood is a blessing, true enough, but more blessed I feel are those who are able to sail smoothly through the initial formative years of parenting. In our side of the world the common belief is that, in giving birth to a child a woman is born again. And really, after having two kids of my own today, I completely stand by this belief.

In a northern indian village, a baby girl with two faces, two noses, two pairs of lips and two pairs of eyes is born. Her parents says that she is eating and breathing normally.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University believes that the war between the sexes begins in the womb. Also, a brother twin can compromise the health of his twin sister even before she is born.

Giving birth is not easy. When you are in labour try to relax the lower abdomen, pelvic floor, hips and buttocks and thighs, each time a contraction is over. Then go to the general relaxation.