Deciding where and when you will welcome your child is an important decision. Many women are choosing water birth as a form of hydrotherapy treatment for delivery.
Before planning your labor, discuss this option with your physician or midwife in advance. Find out whether your hospital or birthing centre has access to a pool and find out how you can obtain access.
1. Know your options
When it comes to giving birth, there are various options available. One such choice is water birth; this method can provide women who desire an all-natural or minimal pain medication experience with a successful labor and delivery experience. Before opting for water birthing as the birthing experience of their choice, they should first discuss all their available choices with their healthcare provider or midwife and be completely honest in discussing any desired changes they would like made during labor and delivery.
American Pregnancy advises water births for healthy pregnant women who have low-risk pregnancies. High-risk or complicated pregnancies pose greater risk for complications – for instance, when their baby turns breech or needs emergency cesarean section; in these instances water birth is not advised as an option.
Some may be uncertain of their decision to go with water birth due to perceived risks; however, they should know that these are extremely low and manageable; all you need to ensure a successful experience is communication with your health care provider throughout.
Temperature regulation and hygiene protocols should be implemented to decrease infection risks and water aspiration risk; this occurs rarely as newborns get all their oxygen needs met through their placenta and umbilical cord.
2. Make a birth plan
Your birth plan will enable your midwife to anticipate what type of assistance will be necessary on delivery day, so it is advisable that you begin considering it during your first trimester and that everyone involved with your pregnancy understands the choices being made.
Water birth occurs when part of your labor and delivery take place in a warm body of water – usually a tub or pool – during labor and birth. More women than ever before are opting for this delivery method, which offers numerous advantages but may not suit every woman.
Discuss this option with your midwife and determine whether your hospital or birth center offers this feature; they may have their own pool on site, or allow you to bring one from outside.
As soon as it comes time for you to give birth, your care team will closely monitor both you and your baby while in the water. They may intervene if they believe it to be too hot, or your labor progressing too slowly.
They will check both your blood pressure and that of the baby with regularity while in the water, using Doppler for heart tones, temperature measurement, as well as drying your head and body off afterwards to keep you warm.
3. Talk to your midwife
Water births have quickly become an increasingly popular option for mothers looking for a natural delivery experience. The warm water resembling your baby’s amniotic sac may ease labor intensity; therefore it’s essential that any plans for water birth be discussed with their healthcare provider beforehand as this method might not be suitable for all mothers.
An experienced midwife should be sought, as they will best understand your unique needs and concerns regarding water births. Furthermore, they can also assist you in finding an institution or center which supports such births to accommodate for your wishes.
NICE guidelines recommend that most healthy pregnant women can opt for a water birth; however, an alternate birth plan should also be prepared in case complications arise during labor, such as preterm labor or your baby being breech.
Not all medical procedures can take place in water birthing settings. An epidural is incompatible with water birth, while TENS (an electrical stimulation technique) should not be used either. Furthermore, some drugs (ibuprofen and acetaminophen in particular) may react badly with water environments; please check with your healthcare provider or midwife before using these pain relief options in water environments.
4. Find a place to birth
As part of your pregnancy journey, you have likely made many choices regarding how and where you would like your baby to arrive. From choosing which people to bring with them through to selecting a pain management plan and whether you would prefer water birth.
Water birth, commonly referred to as hydrotherapy, occurs when at least part of your labor and delivery takes place in a tub or pool filled with warm water. Depending on what stage your labor is at, this experience may be relaxing; giving birth can take place anywhere from hospitals to birth centers to home birth.
Find an area that supports your plan, with an experienced obstetrician on hand and appropriate facilities in the vicinity. Your doctor or midwife may know of locations suitable for water birth in your area and hospitals that specialize in them are also an option.
Make sure the place you select has a birthing tub that’s heated at an appropriate temperature, along with beds or cots in case they need to be used during labor; additionally, having chairs nearby would allow for afterbirth skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby.
