All About Water Birthing

Your contractions are getting stronger and you know you're in labor. Your labor partner helps you slip calmly into a tub of warm, soothing water. As you settle back, you feel another strong contraction. But you turn to the side easily in the water to a more comfortable position and breathe deeply. You feel warmed, protected, and supported by the water -- as will your baby when he or she enters the warm tub to experience a gentle birth.

Giving birth in water is still not considered a conventional method, but more and more people are considering it as the information spreads about this type of birth experience.

When you go into labor, you enter a tub of warm water that's between 90 and 100 degrees. Your baby is monitored using a special underwater Doppler device. If intravenous medications are necessary, in most cases they can be administered to you while you're in the tub. Here you'll continue to labor until you're ready to give birth. You can give birth while submerged in the water, but some women choose only to labor in the tub, and prefer to give birth out of the tub.

If you give birth in the tub, as soon as the baby is born you or the attendant will reach into the tub and immediately but gently raise the baby to the surface of the water. Once baby reaches the surface, he'll begin breathing air.

According to Barbara Harper, RN, director of Waterbirth International (www.waterbirth.org), birthing in water reduces stress and anxiety, allows the laboring woman to focus inward, relaxes the body's muscles, and makes it possible for the laboring woman to move and change position more easily. There are benefits for the baby too: Warm water is similar to the familiar fluid environment of the womb and creates a smoother transition to an air environment. Water also buffers light and sound that can overstimulate a newborn on his way out into the world.

If you're interested in having a water birth, you'll need to find out if your hospital or birthing center allows water birth. You'll need an attendant who's trained in water birthing, and you'll need to find out if your hospital or birthing center has birthing tubs available, or if you'll need to rent one.

Water birthing isn't recommended in the case of breech births, multiple births, premature labor, or if you're at risk for any serious pregnancy complication. Your attendant should be aware and make you aware of these limitations. If any complications should arise during labor, you'll be asked to step out of the tub so your birth attendant can assist you.

All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.