There are changes in the mother's condition during the last weeks of pregnancy. As the head of the fetus settles into the opening formed by the bones of the mother’s pelvis and the base of the uterus descends lower, the mother may again feel easier to breathe when the upper part of the uterus does not press on the lungs. Instead, the uterus presses on the bladder.

The actual initiator of labor is unknown, and therefore its exact time cannot be known in advance. There are several factors that are thought to affect it, including changes in hormone levels. The proportion of progesterone, which maintains pregnancy, in the mother's blood decreases, whereas the proportion of oxytocin, which promotes contractions, increases.

Childbirth progresses in three stages. The first stage starts with contractions and the cervix dilating, and ends when the cervix is fully open.

Next, during the rather short second or effort stage, the uterine muscles begin their work. During this stage, the mother must actively push the baby out through the birth canal. In the third stage, the mother pushes out a placenta shaped like a small frying pan, as well as the rest of the umbilical cord and the fetal membranes.

Human labor pains are more severe compared to those experienced by other mammals. In an upright human, the pelvic orifice is narrower than in mammals that walk on four limbs. In addition, the head of a human baby is large when compared to the rest of its body.

The fetus does not always place itself head-down in the mother's womb during late pregnancy. If the attempt to turn is unsuccessful, a caesarean section is carried out. In some cases, the mother gives birth to the child feet first. The C-section can also be carried out, for example, due to a strong fear of childbirth on the mother's part, or when the size of the mother's pelvic opening is too small for the fetus. During the childbirth phase, an emergency C-section may need to be carried out if the mother's fetal heart rate falls. The mother's abdomen is cut open, and the child is lifted from the uterus. The uterus and abdominal layers are then sutured closed. A mother who gives birth without a C-section usually recovers from childbirth more quickly, simply because she does not need to be wary of a healing sectional wound.

After giving birth, the mother's abdomen is still the size of a pregnant belly. This happens because the uterus takes 4 to 8 weeks to contract back to its normal size after the fetus is removed. 

After birth, the newborn child has to get used to many changes in its environment. This process begins when the baby takes its first breath, filling its lungs with air as breathing begins. The child's blood circulation begins, and oxygenated blood now comes from the lungs instead of the umbilical cord. The baby needs to learn to be fed. Being close to its mother during feeding helps the baby to get used to the coldness, light and sounds of the surrounding world.