Waterbirth: A Birthing Option
Waterbirth, what is it?
A growing number of pregnant women are looking into alternative birth choices and I often get asked the question of what my experience is with water births and what the benefits to mom and baby are.
I birthed my first two children at a very protocol-driven hospital where waterbirth was not an option, nor was I even allowed to labor in the tub. As I had witnessed a lot of waterbirths in the course of my doula career; both in home and hospital births, I knew the dynamics of how water can be soothing and make for a smooth transition for the baby who goes from water in utero to water at the moment of birth, and then to his/her mother’s arms. So, for the birth of my third child, I chose to have a home birth where I would have the option of a waterbirth. I can personally say that my waterbirth was an amazing experience. I vividly remember how the water helped with my lower back, which prior to getting into the birthing tub was giving me some major discomfort. Moments after getting into the tub, my daughter was birthed into the hands of her daddy with the guidance of my highly skilled midwife.
More and more women are looking for a more empowering experience of bringing their babies more gently into the world with the support of their partners. Many pregnant mothers are looking for birthing facilities and providers that give the option of being able to labor in the tub or even give birth in the water.
As I look at my own personal experience and the experiences of other moms who have had a water birth, I wanted to ask a local Certified Nurse Midwife, Isabelle Guillou with Rush-Copley Medical Group, on her take on waterbirth in a hospital setting. “Waterbirth is a great birth option for women who want to birth naturally and has many benefits for both mom and baby, says Isabelle Guillou. The birth pool/tub delineates some personal space for the mom to be and allows her to labor in any position that feels right to her. The partner may join the laboring mom in the pool which does create a very intimate and spiritual moment for the couple. As the mother enters the tub during the active phase of labor, she often says that her labor feels easier and that she is able to relax and move through her labor with more ease and comfort. The shift that occurs between the production of adrenaline or stress hormone and the hormone Oxytocin results in more efficient contractions/surges resulting in faster labor progress. Some women may initially be more comfortable with the idea to only labor in the tub and plan to step out to birth their baby, but having the option to stay in the water to birth can also help a mother feel safe and more confident and she will choose to stay in the water to birth her baby. On rare occasions, a mom may feel that her labor may not progress well or is too intense and decide that she does not want to stay in the water anymore. Even though, she did not birth in the water, she will still have a sense of satisfaction that waterbirth was an option available and that she did partially labor in the tub.
As Isabelle Guillou points out, water birth also benefits the baby. She explains that when a mother labors in the tub, the buoyancy and pressure exerted by the water on her abdomen improves the blood flow to the uterus and provides better oxygenation to the baby while in utero. As the baby starts to crown, the soothing warmth of the water and the counter pressure that the water exerts on the perineum will help the mother control her expulsive efforts and will helps her eases her baby out. The incidence and severity of trauma to the perineum is significantly decreased when allowed to birth in the water, eliminating the need for an episiotomy. Once born, the baby is gently brought up to the surface and placed on the mother’s chest, allowing the couplet to relax and bond together. This closeness between the mother and her newborn infant eases the stress of the birth, thus creating reassurance and a sense of security (American Pregnancy*). The water in the tub provides an ideal environment similar to the amniotic fluid with a temperature close to the maternal body temperature. While the baby’s head is kept above the surface to allow for breathing, the baby’s body is kept in the water to maintain its temperature.
There are some risks or dangers associated with water birth, but these are theoretical risks. Although water birth is a great option for many women, it is not for some. Isabelle Guillou indicates that women who are interested to labor/birth in the water should be carefully screened during their pregnancy and closely monitored during labor. Occasionally, if something does not seem right during labor, such as concerns with the fetal heart tones, prolonged labors, or bleeding, the mom will may be asked to exit the tub.
If you are pregnant, water birth might be a great option for you. How do you know if water birth is a good option for you? First, look for a birthing facility and a provider in your area who supports waterbirth. Second, schedule a meet and greet with the provider to see if you are a good candidate as certain conditions may restrict a mom from having a waterbirth, such as being pregnant with multiples, having an active herpetic lesion, preterm labor before 37 weeks, meconium stained amniotic fluid, fetal malpresentation, an elevated blood pressure/pre-eclampsia, or an elevated Body Mass Index. I would strongly encourage you to attend a natural childbirth class (HypnoBirthing couples water birth nicely). Lastly, note that there aren’t too many providers who offer waterbirth and those who do book up fast. If you are in the Chicagoland area and are interested in waterbirth, contact me for a list of birthing facilities or home birth providers who offer waterbirth as an option. Rush Copley in Aurora offers a class on waterbirth on a quarterly basis. This class is open to the public and is free. To find out about upcoming waterbirth classes and to register, visit www.rushcopley.com.
In all, it is nice to know that you have options. I would love to support you in your birthing journey by providing you with as many birthing options.
Picture courtesy of Maggie Cuprisin http://www.maggiecuprisinphoto.com/
* American Pregnancy http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/water-birth/