Waterbirth

The therapeutic properties of warm water immersion have been known for centuries.  The number of women requesting this option for birth is increasing, but the facilities offering it as an option are very limited.

“Water becomes your support, like 1000 hands holding and caressing you.  It is perfectly safe for your baby to be born in water.  Your baby has been growing in a fluid-filled sac, floating happily throughout pregnancy, and when born in warm water the breathing mechanism is delayed until the baby is safely into the mother’s arms out in the air.” (Waterbirth International, 2006)

The Benefits are;

• facilitates mobility / increases weightlessness
• provides significant pain relief
• enables the mother to assume any position
• gives the mother more feelings of control
• promotes relaxation
• conserves energy
• reduces the need for drugs and interventions
• has the ability to speed up labour due to the relaxation
• reduces blood pressure
• reduces perineal tearing
• protects the mother from interventions by surrounding hew with her own private space
• reduces the need for caesarean section
• is highly rated by mothers
• is highly rated by midwives
• encourages an easier birth for mother
• is the most gentle welcome for baby

Waterbirth is a service I feel comfortable to offer, but it isn’t available in majority of hospitals, so use at home is your only option.  Even if you’re unsure if birthing in water is for you, using the pool for immersion in labour is a fantastic source of relaxation and pain relief when you’re planning a homebirth or hospital birth.