Analgesia - Medication is used to decrease the sensation of pain.

Anesthesia - A medication or other agent is used to cause a loss of feeling. For general anesthesia, a gas or intravenous medication is used to make the mother unconscious during delivery. For spinal anesthesia, a drug is inected into the lower spinal area to numb the vaginal region and abdomen. For epidural anesthesia, a drug is given through a fine tube inserted in the mother's lower back to numb the vaginal area and lower abdomen.

Augmentation of Labor - A drug is used to help labor contractions continue or become stronger.

Birthing Room - An in-hospital arrangement in which labor, birth and immediate recovery after birth all occur in the same room.

Breech Birth - A birth in which the infant's buttocks and/or feet enter the birth canal first.

Cesarean Section - A surgical operation in which the baby is delivered through incisions made in the mother's abdomen and uterus. A primary cesarean section is the mother's first, even if she has given birth vaginally before. A repeat cesarean section is when the mother has had one or more cesarean sections previously.

Episiotomy - An incision made to enlarge the vaginal opening.

Fetal Monitoring - Electronic recording of contractions and the baby's hearbeat. External fetal monitoring involves the use of small monitors held in place on the mother's abdomen by belts. Sometimes internal fetal monitoring needs to be used. Internal fetal monitoring involves inserting a small tube with a fine wire through the vagina and attaching the wire to the baby's scalp. Also, a soft tube may be placed alongside the baby's head to measure contractions.

Forceps Delivery - Spoon-shaped instruments, called forceps, are used to help deliver the baby's head. In a low forceps delivery, the instruments are not used until the baby's head has moved through the pelvis. In a mid forceps delivery, the instruments are used before the baby's head has moved through the pelvis.

Medical Induction of Labor - A medication is used to start labor contractions.

Nurse-Midwife - A registered nurse who has had specialized midwifery training to care for women and babies during pregnancy, childbirth and after birth.

Rooming-In - An arrangement in which the mother and infant are cared for in the same room for all or a substantial part of the day.

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section (VBAC) - The mother has had a cesarean section previously, but delivers a subsequent baby vaginally.