What is Water Birth?
A water birth is a process in which a woman labor or delivers her baby in a birth pool or tub filled with warm water. Being in water during labor makes it easier for the mother to move around and reduces the stress of labor. Additionally, it improves the blood flow to the uterus, reduces labor pain and chances of vaginal tearing.
Water births are becoming more popular day by day and several women are choosing water birth as an option for childbirth due to its benefits. Water births can be done in a hospital, at a birthing center, or at home with the help of a doctor, nurse, or midwife.
What is a Birth Pool?
Water births are usually done in a birth pool or tub. A birth pool is a special tub filled with warm water for women to immerse themselves during labor. The buoyancy of water provides support and freedom of movement to the mother. Birth pools are of two types:
- Permanently installed- It is mostly used in hospitals and birthing centers.
- Portable- It is commonly used for home births.
What are the Benefits of Water Births?
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a water birth during the first stage of labor may have some benefits such as:
- More relaxed, comfortable, and less painful labor
- Low chances of cesarean section deliveries
- Shorten the labor
- Lessen the stress of labor
- Higher birth satisfaction
- Reduce the need for epidural anesthesia or other pain relief
- Reduce the need for episiotomy i.e. the surgical cut in the vaginal wall during labor to enlarge the opening for the baby to pass through.
ACOG doesn’t recommend a water birth during the second stage of labor when the cervix is completely dilated and open. Even it does not recommend delivering the baby underwater as there is no clear evidence on the safety of water birth.
What are the Risks of Water Birth?
Sometimes, water birth can be risky for the baby and the mother. Here are some problems that may occur during water birthing:
- Babies born in water may get fatal infections such as Legionnaires’ disease which causes fever, cough, and pneumonia.
- There may be difficulty in regulating the baby’s body temperature
- A water birth may cause damage in the umbilical cord
- Baby may breathe in tub water or may not be able to breathe
- The baby may experience asphyxia due to the lack of oxygen in the body which may cause unconsciousness or death
- The baby may have seizures
- The possibility of infant drowning is higher during water births
Recommended Criteria for Water Births
Water birth is recommended only for women between 37 weeks to 41 weeks of gestation, and having a low-risk pregnancy, clear amniotic fluid, and a baby in the head-down position.
Water births are generally not recommended for women with the following conditions:
- Preterm labor
- Two or more previous cesarean section deliveries
- Blood or skin infection
- Fever (38°C or higher)
- Risk of excessive vaginal bleeding
- Difficulty tracing fetal heartbeat
- History of shoulder dystocia that happens when a baby’s shoulders become stuck inside the pelvis during labor
- Mother with preeclampsia (high blood pressure) and diabetes
- Carrying twins or higher-order multiples
- The baby is in a feet-first position or much larger than average.
Precautions to Take During a Water Birth
If you want to have a water birth, talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and birth plan early in your pregnancy. Get all the information about how the labor and delivery are done. Visit hospitals and birthing centers to know more about the water birthing options. Here are some important things you need to know:
- The hospitals or birthing centers should have an experienced, licensed healthcare professional for water birthing.
- They follow all the infection control measures and make sure that the birth pool is clean.
- They properly monitor the mother and baby while in the birth pool.
- They regulate the temperature of the water in the tub between 36 °C to 37.7 °C.
Things Needed for Home Water Birth
If you are opting for a home water birth, a trained midwife can assist you along the way. For home water birth, You may need to rent or buy a birth pool or tub. You also need to decide in advance where you’ll place the tub. You must have all the essential supplies required for a water birth, including:
- Birth pool or tub
- Hygienic birth pool liner to cover the tub
- A net or strainer to remove solid materials during birth
- A new, clean, and portable hose to put fresh, safe water into your birth pool
- A water pump to remove the water from your tub after your birth
- Towels
- Floating thermometer to monitor the temperature of the water
- Pots for boiling water
- Soft blankets for a baby immediately upon birth
What to Wear While Giving Birth?
You can wear a labor gown or anything you feel comfortable in. It is advised to use a bathrobe just after you leave the warm water tub because you can get cold.