Labour will be induced if there is a medical reason to do so, e.g., a woman’s water has broken (rupture of the amniotic membrane) but she is not having contractions, or the pregnancy has gone beyond 41 weeks.
The caesarean (also called caesarean section or C-section) is a type of delivery performed when the baby cannot be born through the vagina. This surgical procedure involves cutting open the mother’s abdomen and uterus to remove the baby. In Québec, about one in four women give birth by C-section…
Your baby has finally arrived. Who does she look like? Her daddy? Her mom? Maybe a distant relative? Whatever the resemblance, your baby is unique, and now it’s time to get to learn all about her.
Skin-to-skin contact with your newborn in the first hours, days, and weeks of life soothes and comforts her. Skin‑to‑skin contact is an excellent way to get acquainted with your baby and develop an emotional bond.
Hospital stays generally last 24 to 36 hours after vaginal delivery and 36 to 48 hours after a caesarean section. At birthing centres, the stay is usually about 24 hours. The length of your stay may vary depending on you and your baby’s health.
Your body prepares for pregnancy during every menstrual cycle.
The length of a pregnancy is calculated from the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period because it’s virtually impossible to know the exact moment of fertilization.
Fertilization occurs when a sperm and an egg meet. For this to happen, the sperm must cross the outer layer of the egg. The egg and the sperm then fuse to form a single cell.
This section covers the development of the fetus and its environment.
Your baby is constantly growing and must go through several stages before he’s ready to live outside the uterus. These stages, or key moments, are outlined below. The number of weeks associated with each stage (based on last menstrual period) is only an approximation and may differ from one…
Government of Quebec
Government of Quebec