<Tr> <Th> Deaths </Th> <Td> 500,000 maternal deaths a year </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> Childbirth, also known as labour and delivery, is the ending of a pregnancy by one or more babies leaving a woman's uterus by vaginal passage or C - section . In 2015 there were about 135 million births globally . About 15 million were born before 37 weeks of gestation, while between 3 and 12% were born after 42 weeks . In the developed world most deliveries occur in hospital, while in the developing world most births take place at home with the support of a traditional birth attendant . </P> <P> The most common way of childbirth is a vaginal delivery . It involves three stages of labour: the shortening and opening of the cervix, descent and birth of the baby, and the delivery of the placenta . The first stage typically lasts twelve to nineteen hours, the second stage twenty minutes to two hours, and the third stage five to thirty minutes . The first stage begins with crampy abdominal or back pains that last around half a minute and occur every ten to thirty minutes . The crampy pains become stronger and closer together over time . During the second stage pushing with contractions may occur . In the third stage delayed clamping of the umbilical cord is generally recommended . A number of methods can help with pain such as relaxation techniques, opioids, and spinal blocks . </P>

The process of labor and childbirth is known as