Water Birth
Water as pain relief has been well known for centuries - it's called hydrotherapy and is used for rheumatic pain, for example, as well as muscular aches and strains. Many women find a bath enormously relaxing and when you're in labour it's no different, except that complete immersion in the water, so that you float freely, is most important.Whilst water cannot provide complete pain relief, it can certainly make things more comfortable, as it acts as a support and helps in the production of endorphins. Water will make you feel more mobile and lighter, as well as soothing you mentally. Most women who choose to labour in water do so in specially designed pools. In hospital, these are usually plumbed in, but you can hire pools for use at home.
Points to remember
- Many midwives would advise that you get into the pool when you are in established labour, that is to say, when your cervix is 4-5 cm dilated. Sometimes however, if labour is taking a long time to establish, you may find it helpful to rest and relax in the water.
- As a rule, you will have more privacy if you are using a birth pool, as the pool rooms (or bathrooms) tend to be more isolated than ordinary rooms in labour wards. You should always have someone with you, however.
- You are much more likely to be able to do your own thing, with a supportive midwife in a low-tech environment, for example at home, or in a small unit.
- You may have to pay to hire a pool.
- You may have difficulty finding a midwife and/or hospital in your area who has waterbirth experience. If the local health board is unable to help, you may have to consider alternatives, such as - go to a different hospital , have a home birth, book an independent midwife - before you settle down to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.
- The water has to be maintained at a temperature between 36.5-38oC. Not too hot so that you become exhausted and enervated and not too cold which stimulates the baby to breathe. With a portable pool, this may mean your partner trotting back and forth with buckets to keep the temperature right!
- You can use some other forms of pain relief with water, such as traditional acupuncture, reflexology, massage, or Entonox for example, but not Pethidine (you may fall asleep and slip under the water) or an epidural (you need drips and monitors).
- Some hospitals rule against using a birth pool if your pregnancy or labour is abnormal, e.g. pre-eclampsia, multiple pregnancy, or if your baby needs electronic heart monitoring. This doesn't say much for choice, so if you are planning to use a pool, discuss in advance about what may happen if you have problems in labour.
Tweets for Water Birth
Midwifesupplies (Jill Colpitts)
now has complete water birth set ups :)
3 July 2009, 11:06 pm
coloradoeyes (Amy)
Going to a water #park over 4th of July holiday = instant boost of birth control. :-)
3 July 2009, 6:18 pm
kITAkATTmONROE (Beautiful Nightmare)
@K_Harp me an mom are gettin each others birth month flower. mines is a water lily or a larkus an hers is a dafodill with each others name..
3 July 2009, 4:59 pm
Midmaid (Kamiah Doyle)
@BabyJoseph I got to Birth my 3 Kids at Home. 2 in water & the 1 who wouldn't wait for the pool to fill or the Midwife, my unassisted Birth.
3 July 2009, 3:02 pm
mharen (Michael)
New baby is here! Charlotte Mae Haren, 6#1oz, 18.5", born 7/2 21:30; water birth at home
3 July 2009, 12:05 pm
Midwifesupplies (Jill Colpitts)
Is acquiring more water birth supplies today.
3 July 2009, 10:02 am
wlwakefield (Wes Wakefield)
says let's see- two false "Erica Hospital Alerts" tonight, and a broken water heater. Sounds just about right for the birth of Wakefield #2.
2 July 2009, 10:26 pm
elektryk (elektryk)
Update: Shannon's water broke, there have been no regular contractions. The doctor has begun to induce birth over the next 12 hours.
2 July 2009, 10:16 pm
ShelbyJaimeHuff (Shelby Huff)
omg polluted water is causeing fish to be unisex! Get ready guys, soon youll be the ones giving birth! haha (its both funny and not funny)
2 July 2009, 6:54 pm
tehsovyet (Jordan B)
Remember to always bring a bucket of water when celebrating your country's birth with fireworks...
2 July 2009, 4:13 pm
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