Childbirth

Oakland reluctantly parted with a godmother last week, as public health nurse Sandra Tramiel made the final rounds of a career devoted to reducing an African American infant mortality rate that remains among the most stubborn in the country.

For her second child, Angie Rivera chose to give birth not at a hospital, but at the Community Birth Center on West Florence Avenue in South Los Angeles. Angie’s husband, Joseph O’Day and her midwife, Racha Tahani Lawler, were by her side for the...

For parents of newborns – or those expecting one – congratulations! And start planning.

If California were a country, it would tie with Fiji for the percentage of babies born too early. In 2010, nearly 10 babies out of every 100 were born before 37 weeks of gestation.

We’ve reported extensively on how hospitals across the state and country are reducing early elective deliveries of babies.

My friend had been pushing for four hours. “You have a size nine baby coming out of a size seven pelvis,” her doctor said.

Corrie Carroll’s husband travels for work a lot. So, when it came time to give birth to their daughter, the couple made an appointment. Carroll said the experience was perfect. “He arrived home from Europe on a Wednesday night and we drove to the...

Now the feds are jumping in. This morning, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a national campaign to reduce elective deliveries of babies before 39 weeks of pregnancy, saying the effort will improve care and save millions.