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In our experience - and that of our customers - a water birth is great because:
The water in the pool provides support for the birthing mother – the water takes the weight of your body and limbs giving you more flexibility to move into positions which you might otherwise find difficult. The warmth of the water provides natural pain relief and helps soften the membranes – research has shown that a water birth in fist time Mums reduces the risk of tearing. Because the lower part of the birthing Mum’s body is usually under the water, many women express a feeling that they were able to “maintain their dignity” during labour because – unless you want them to – no one in the room can see what’s happening at the “business end”! A Water Birth often appears to be “not as messy” as a non-water birth. After the brith you simply empty the contents of the pool down a drain or toilet – no washing of sheets or towels. Because you are usually naked for a water birth, this means that skin to skin contact between Mum and Baby can happen within moments of baby arriving in the world – skin to skin contact has been shown to regulate baby’s heat rate and body temperature, allows baby to be colonized by Mum’s bacteria (which boost natural immunity) and raises baby’s blood sugar to a healthy level. Birthing partners have the opportunity to take a more active role in the birth, either by being in the pool themselves or even in a more practical way such as pouring in more warm water in time with contractions to help with pain relief. The birthing partner can also be the first to touch the baby – this is rare during a non-water birth. Because water births are often conducted at home, there is less chance of invasive medical procedures, which can slow labour down. Also as a result of being outside a hospital environment, come experts argue that the risk of infection and post-partum complications are significantly reduced. A water birth can be a natural, beautiful and empowering experience for everyone involved. “The great advantage of planning a waterbirth at home, as opposed to in a hospital, is that you know the birth pool will be available when you want it, that nobody else will be using it, and that you will not be denied the chance to try it because it 'isn't clean' or 'health and safety don't like us using it', and so on." (www.homebirth.org.uk)
If you’re still not sure if a water birth is right for you or you have any questions, take a look at our Useful Links page or call us on 0845 230 1381. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have about your choices in childbirth.
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