Choosing a water birth
Choosing a water birth
A WARM WELCOME
Everything you need to know about water births
We all instinctively know how soothing and relaxing a warm bath can be. What you may not know is that being in warm water has an actual physical effect on your body, which can be of great help during labour. Learn more about the benefits of a water birth and prepare for the practicalities too.
The benefits of a water birth
The main advantage of being immersed in warm water is that it has a relaxing effect. This helps relieve pain and ease tension throughout your body, and can reduce the need for pain-relieving drugs1.
Another advantage is the support of the water – it gives you the freedom to experiment with different positions. Also, water birth will not prevent tearing or episiotomy but might make them less likely1.
The practicalities of a water birth
For it to be effective, you will need to be immersed up to the level of your nipples, with your abdomen under the water, which needs to be kept at a constant body temperature2. You can get in and out of the water whenever you want3 – keep a warm dressing gown handy.
If you’re using a birthing pool in hospital or at home, a midwife will regularly check the baby’s heartbeat using a Pinnards stethoscope or Doppler machine4.
Although it can be soothing, some women find that the water doesn’t give as much pain relief as they were expecting and need extra medication to help them cope or simply is not as comfortable. So be prepared for a possible change of plans to avoid being too disappointed.
Epidurals and TENS stimulations are not possible to have in water births.
NEXT STEPS
- If you’re planning a water birth, why not ask your midwife to see if your local NHS unit has pools?
- Make sure to pack some towels and dry clothes for when you get out of the water.
Oriana Hernandez Carrion
Oriana has a BSc (Hons) in Nutrition and Food Science (1st class) from University Iberoamericana in Mexico, the country where she completed an internship in a Children’s Public Hospital (HIMFG) and later on worked in a private nutrition clinic.
Last reviewed: 28th July 2021
Reviewed by Oriana Hernandez Carrion
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