Water baby
If you feel strongly that you want to avoid pain-relieving drugs and medical intervention during your
labor, it’s worth considering a water birth. The relaxing effects of warm water can help ease pain and water also supports your body, making it much easier to move about freely. Many women labor in a birthing pool but get out just before the delivery; others give birth in the water. The choice is yours and if you find you don’t like it when B-day comes, the solution is simple: just get out!
What are the benefits of a water birth?
- It relieves pain women who labor in water are far less likely to use medical pain relief – in one study, only 24% of first-time moms who had a water birth needed pain-relieving drugs compared to 50% of those who didn’t use water to give birth.
- It reduces stress and anxiety which, in turn, lessens your perception of pain and gives you confidence in your ability to give birth.
- It supports your weight and makes it easier for you to stay upright, helping your pelvis to open up so your baby can pass through. The buoyancy of the water also makes it easier to change positions to help you cope with your contractions.
- It reduces the risk of tearing The water softens the tissues of your perineum (the area between the vagina and back passage) making them more supple and able to stretch to accommodate your baby’s head as it passes through. This also means you’re less likely to need an episiotomy.
- It frees feel-good hormones Relaxing in warm water stimulates your body to produce pain-relieving endorphins.
- You can combine it with other forms of pain relief including nitrous oxide (if available), massage, acupressure and aromatherapy. You won’t be able to use analgesics, since they can make you drowsy, or an epidural, as this limits your mobility. However, you can choose to get out of the pool to have these at any time.
- It’s peaceful The pool itself is a quiet, private environment which helps you feel safe and secure while you labor.
Many birth experts believe that being born into warm water and a tranquil atmosphere eases your baby’s transition to the outside world
Is it safe for you?
Most research indicates that water birth is just as safe as giving birth on dry land for healthy women with straightforward low-risk pregnancies. If you give birth in the water you will probably be asked to get out after the third stage (delivery of the placenta) as there’s a risk you could bleed heavily and it’ll be easier for the midwife to keep an eye on your blood loss out of the water.
Is it safe for your baby?
Your doctor or midwife will still be able to monitor your baby’s heart rate while you’re in the water, via a hand-held waterproof Sonicaid, and she’ll ask you to get out if she feels your baby may be in distress. As to the delivery itself, many experts believe that being born into warm water eases your baby’s transition to the outside world. The main concern would be that he may inhale water but all the evidence indicates that this is extremely unlikely. When your baby is born under water he is still attached to you by his umbilical cord and continues to receive oxygen through it. He will not take his first breath until he is brought to the surface of the water, which your doctor or midwife will usually do in the first seconds following his delivery.
How to plan your water birth
Hospitals are becoming more receptive to water births and yours may have a pool or allow you to bring your own pool to use. If not, contact your local birthing center to find out if they cater to this option. Alternately, you can rent or buy a pool to use at home – Midwife Info has an online database so you can find a local midwife experienced in water birth.
Hiring a pool
As a rule, aim to rent a pool for two to three weeks either side of your due date in case your baby puts in an early appearance or you go overdue. You’ll need a large space to erect the pool – and bear in mind that once filled it will be extremely heavy, so upstairs is not a good idea! Remember too that you’ll need adequate water pressure to fill it quickly and maintain the recommended temperature.
Who can’t have a water birth?
There are circumstances when a water birth isn’t recommended. In general, if there have been any complications in your pregnancy, such as bleeding in late pregnancy, you go into labor early, or your baby is showing signs of distress, you’ll be advised against it. You’ll also be steered away from it if:
- You have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease; or a health problem such as herpes, which transfers easily in water
- You have high blood pressure or develop pre-eclampsia.
- Your baby is very small or has not been growing well during your pregnancy.
- Your labor has been induced.
- You’re having twins or more.
- Your baby is breech (feet or bottom first).