Childbirth is the completion of pregnancy, when a baby leaves the womb through vaginal birth or caesarean section. Labour is usually divided into three stages: opening of the cervix, birth of the baby, and delivery of the placenta, followed by a critical postpartum recovery period. Vaginal birth is generally preferred, while C-sections, though lifesaving, carry higher risks when overused. Pain in labour has physical and psychological dimensions, shaped by culture, support, and medical care. Globally, complications of pregnancy and birth cause hundreds of thousands of maternal deaths and millions of newborn deaths, with most preventable and concentrated in the developing world.