All About Water Birth and Water Babies
When a woman gets pregnant, there are many things that run through her mind. Other than being concerned about how she is going to raise her child, she also has to consider how she’s going to bring the child into the world. As medical technology has advanced, some people are beginning to feel that the medical world is too cold and clinical for them and they want their birthing experience to be more intimate. For some, this includes using a midwife instead of a typical doctor and for others, this even goes as far as choosing to give birth at home. One type of home birth that is becoming increasingly popular is water births.Early forms of water birth – where doctors used warm water to help ease an infant from the womb – were first conducted at home in the 1960s in France and the Soviet Union. It did not become popular in the United States until 1991, when a hospital in New Hampshire developed real protocols for water births. As of 2005, there are over 9,000 hospitals that have these protocols and it is also popular in the United Kingdom.
A water birth is quite different than a hospital birth. First, the mother does not spend much time stationed in a bed at all; she is free to get up and move around as she wishes until it is time to get into the water. Typically, little or no pain medication is issued. The water is heated to closely match the temperature in the womb itself and a woman stays in the tub throughout her labor, pushing when it feels right. Sometimes, the father joins the mother in the pool or tub to provide support. There is little intervention unless it’s needed and usually, it’s the mother or father who catches the baby as it emerges, as opposed to a doctor. The baby is usually left with the mother for the first few minutes to increase bonding and infants are typically calmer after emerging from the womb during a water birth. Sometimes, they cry but the majority does not, as opposed to hospital births.
Water births do offer many pros and cons. For the baby, the warmth of the water helps ease the transition from the womb. It also helps to soften all of the light, colors, and loud noises that are jolting to a newborn that is used to the quiet comfort of its mother’s womb. Water births do not help with stretch marks though.
The one who benefits most from water births is the mother. Mothers who go through water births often experience increased pain management because water birth is considered to be a part of “hydrotherapy.” Hydrotherapy helps ease the intense pain women feel in their lower back. They also experience increased mobility, strength, and muscle control. Compared to the typical epidural route, this kind of birth can also be beneficial because women who go through water births have a lesser chance of needing medical intervention such as forceps or Cesarean section. It also decreases the risk of skin tears.
However, there are risks involved as well. If a woman does not seek a true professional to guide her through the birth, there is a higher risk of infant mortality. There is also an increase in the actual likelihood of the mother or infant developing an infection. Women also experience a slower labor.
There are also special birthing kits that most midwives will actually bring with them. These kits include important electrical supplies. Depending on what the midwife supplies, the materials needed to have a water birth typically include a birthing pool or tub of some sort (these can be rented), a hose to run to the pool, and other small miscellaneous items.
Disclaimer: The information provided within this site is not meant to be a substitute for a medical doctor's opinion. This site is for informational purposes ONLY. Please check with your medical practitioner before any type of treatment or prevention method is started.
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