The birth of a baby begins with the onset of labor—the rhythmic uterine contractions that force the baby out of the womb and into the birth canal toward delivery and its first moment of life outside its mother. One of the remaining mysteries of life is the precise biological mechanisms that signal a pregnancy is complete and the birth process should begin. Women who have chosen to have their babies in a hospital are generally advised to come to the maternity section when their contractions are coming at regular intervals of four to five minutes apart. Many hospitals and other labor and delivery facilities have a “birthing room,” where both parents may participate in the birth experience together. They have immediate access to all the hospital equipment that may be needed during labor and delivery—especially if there is an emergency—but birthing rooms are designed to be much less formal or intimidating than maternity facilities of the past. Their surroundings provide a nonmedical setting for childbirth in a hospital

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