thinking of having a water birth?

The effect of being submerged in a warm deep bath or pool during labour has a profound effect both on your physical and emotional wellbeing. Add to this the deep relaxation of hypnobirthing and a synergistic labour and birth unfolds. When you relax in a warm deep bath, free from gravity’s pull on your body, with sensory stimulation reduced, your body is less likely to secrete stress-related hormones. One of the other benefits is the production of the pain inhibitors-endorphins, which enhance your feeling of comfort and relaxation. Stress hormones such as Noradrenaline and catecholamines, released during stressful situations are inhibited, as you remain relaxed. Many women, and their midwives acknowledge the analgesic and relaxing effect of water plus hypnobirthing.

An old Chinese proverb describes perfectly the experience of labouring and birthing in water:

"Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water, yet in dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it. The soft overcomes the hard, the gentle overcomes the rigid"
--Te Ching 1021

The Benefits of Waterbirth:

• Being in water facilitates mobility and ease of movement
• May speed up your labour
• Reduces stress and its physiological effects on your body
• Empowers you, with an enhanced feelings of control
• May provide you with significant pain relief and reduce the need for chemical analgesia
• Promotes deep relaxation
• Conserves your energy
• May reduce your requirement for drugs and the need for intervention
• Provides the experience of a private protected space
• Reduces perineal trauma and the need for an episiotomy
• May reduce cesarean section rates
• High level of birth satisfaction for both you and your partner
• Utilizes the skills of your midwife, with higher job satisfaction
• Facilitates an easier birth for you, and a more gentle welcome to the world for your baby

Waterbirth Guidelines:
A joint statement produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Royal College of Midwives said that:

‘All healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies at term should have the option of water birth available to them and should be able to proceed to a water birth if they wish.’

If you feel that you would like to explore having a waterbirth, there is plenty of information available both from your community midwife, and other professional protocols and guidelines as below:

Recommendations and Protocols for Waterbirth:
• RCOG and RCM Joint Waterbirth Recommendations
• Guidelines for safe Water use
• Safety recommendations for Pool Use
• Hospital Waterbirth Policy in the UK
• http://www.homebirth.org.uk/water.htm
• http://www.aims.org.uk/choosewater.htm

Guidelines for having a waterbirth:

In order for the use of water to be as safe and helpful as possible, the following guidelines are suggested. These suggestions are based on protocols from various hospitals and birthing units:

• Getting into the pool too early in labour may relax you too much and stall labour
• It is generally recommended that you are established in labour, and about 5cm dilated before you enter the pool
• Make sure you drink plenty of water whilst you are in the pool to remain hydrated
• The temperature of the pool is monitored hourly to maintain the correct temperature for you and your baby’s wellbeing. This is between 34 and 37 degrees centigrade
• If your labour stalls it may be advisable to get out of the pool for a short while, and try again later
• You may be advised to leave the pool if there is any change in your, or your baby’s condition, such as fetal distress, meconium liquor etc.
• Once the baby has been born it is recommended that your baby is brought to the surface of the water immediately, to allow him/her to take his/her first breath.
• Most units have a policy of delivering the placenta out of the pool. This is because women sometimes feel faint during the third stage of labour and it may be difficult to get out of the water. Most units will have a hoist to help you out.
• Some midwives may also want to deliver the placenta out of water, as the warm water may delay delivery, and also so they can gauge your blood loss more accurately

This list is just a basic guideline, and it is recommended that you check out the protocol for waterbirth in your own birthing unit, and perhaps have a tour of the unit to see the birth pool and the facilities.

In Conclusion

A planned waterbirth can be a wonderful experience for you, and a gentle introduction into the world for your baby. Following a few basic safety rules, should ensure that your experience if a satisfying one for all concerned! Be prepared to change your mind if for some reason you don’t feel comfortable in the water. There is no hard and fast rule to say that you should labour and stay in the water to give birth. Listen to your body and follow your own instincts for your labour and birthing.