Water birth
Giving birth in water can create a soothing environment and natural pain relief for you, as well as a comfortable water world for your baby to be born into.
Most hospitals have birthing pools available, although they may only have one or two, so they work on a first come, first served basis. If you are having your baby at home you can hire birthing pools for home use. Getting into a bath after a long day can clear your mind and relax your body, and water births work in much the same way:
Pain relief
Water can’t take the pain away, but it can help you to feel more relaxed and able to cope with contractions. Some studies show that water helps your body to release endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers.
Relaxation Water can help you to feel more relaxed. It reduces your heart rate and blood pressure and can reduce feelings of stress and tension.
Mobility Water can support the weight of many labour positions like squatting, or on all fours, which are quite tricky to sustain on dry land. Water can also carry the weight of your body, making it easier to move around.
A Natural birth Water can help to speed up labour, by stimulating the production of oxytocin, which can bring on more powerful contractions and a faster dilation of the cervix. It therefore reduces the need for medical intervention or pain relief drugs. It can also soften your perineum, reducing the likelihood of needing an episiotomy.
Space The water surrounding you can help you to feel you have a bit of privacy, and some pools are big enough for your partner to get in with you.
Your baby Healthy newborn babies are born with a ‘dive-reflex’, which stops them from taking breaths for a few seconds after the birth. Oxygen is provided for them through the placenta so they will take their first breath outside of the water.
The disadvantages of having a water birth are:
Not all maternity units have a birthing pool, and if they do, and it is in use, you may not be able to use it. (Ask your maternity unit about the birthing pool facilities)
There are certain medical conditions where a water birth is not suitable. If you are carrying twins or your baby is breech, it is not advised.
If you have had an epidural or pethidine you will not be able to use the birthing pool and you cannot use a tens machine. You can use gas and air.
You have to be at least 37 weeks pregnant because premature babies are still too undeveloped to be born into a pool.
If you would like to talk to other mums about water birth, you can do this on the Guide to Labour and Birth area of the chat forum.
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Last Modified: 07/05/2007
Related Chat 11
I gave birth 13 weeks ago to my third child and my first water birth. It was fab! So calm, relaxing and i actually felt not too dirty when i came out amazingly! I didn't have a home water birth as my partner couldn't cope with the birth at home but we used a midwife led unit. This was part of the hospital and there are more and more of these opening all the time. I did have to go to a slightly different area because the one where i am doesn't open until Jan next year i think but you should ask your midwife as she should be able to recommend something for you. The only thing is it just seems to be pot luck whether the pools are busy or not when you go in to labour. Your midwife should still be able to give advice on hiring a birthing pool or the labour suite at the hospital. I would definately recommend it as not only was it a good entry to the world for my water beby but it was an excellent help with the pain too.
im 5 month pregnant at the mo and would love to have a water birth, with my first i was 2 weeks overdue so was induced so basicly refined to a bed for 10 hours to be monitored which i hated, and also had the pethadine which made me vomit all the way through it and then had an epidural which didnt work firt time so had to have another, after the birth i found it hard to manouver so midwifes had to change baby and things so all in all it wasnt a nice experience, thats why im hoping for a water birth this time as i want to stay away from the drugs and have heard nothing but good comments about water birth, im just hoping eveything goes to plan and i can use the pool in the hospital as my partner doesnt like the idea of giving birth at home.i dont really understand how the booking system goes?? do you book it for your due date??? if anyone has had water birth please post your experiences it would be appriceated
Ask your midwife, but you can hire them from birth pool in a box. I gave birth in a pool 5 weeks ago after getting some great tips from mums on here. I can not recommed it enough.
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