The benefit of using a warm bath to soothe aching
muscles, backaches, menstrual pain or just to calm and comfort
ones self is enjoyable for many women. It’s no wonder more
and more women are turning to those ‘comforting’ waters
when they are in labor and during the birth of their babies. Reasons
why women choose water birth may vary but the over all benefits
are the same for every women and baby.
• Reduction of labor length
• Increases maternal autonomy
• Conservers maternal energy
• Deeper relaxation resulting in hormones kicking in
• Fewer birth injuries to the birth canal, vagina, perineum
and vulva
• Reduction of cesareans
• Bacteria is dissipated in water reducing infection to
mother
• Water releases the pelvic floor muscles
• Facilitates a dysfunctional labor
• Lowers blood pressure
• Mother feels empowered
• Reduces the pressure on the abdomen, promoting more efficient
uterine contractions
Benefits for Baby
• More gentle transition from the inner womb to the outer
womb
• Delayed cord cutting until it is done pulsating
• Decreased trauma at birth
• Less problems with breastfeeding after birth
• Easier birth for mom, easier birth for baby
• Bacteria is dissipated in water reducing infection to
baby
• Baby benefits from better maternal blood circulation
www.waterbirth.org
www.birthbalance.com
• HIV and Hepatitis- This is at the discretion
of the attending caregiver. Generally there is no reason to restrict
an HIV positive mother from laboring or giving birth in water.
Evidence shows that the HIV virus is susceptible to the warm water
and cannot live in that environment. Proper cleaning of all equipment
after the birth needs to be carried out.*
• Herpes- Because herpes is highly transferable, it is advisable
not to utilize water as a labor or birth tool. However, you may
discuss this with your caregiver.*
• Inflexibility- If you are determined to have a waterbirth
no matter what, you might want to rethink waterbirth. Every birth
is different, so you need to remain flexible and realize that
your carefully constructed birth plan may not become a reality
in its entirety.*
• Malpresentation- Position of the baby upon descent down
birth canal. Still, some medical caregivers will support water
immersion and /or water birth for breech presentation (Franklin
[bottom first] or Footling [feet first] breech). A prominent Ostend,
Belgium Obstetrician uses a frank breech position as an indication
for a waterbirth.*
• Fearful Attendant- A fearful attendant translates into
a fearful mother and a stalled labor. Make sure that someone you
trust and respect attends your birth as a medical and non-medical
caregiver.*
* www.birthbalance.com
Ockenden, J. (2001) water labor and birth. Time
to let it flow. The Practicing Midwife Oct. 4(9) 30-32*
Nikodem, V.C. (2003) Immersion in water during
in pregnancy, labor and birth. (Dates of most recent substantive
update June 1997). The Cochrane Library, Oxford: Update Software,
Issue 2*
Garland, D. (2002) Collaborative water birth
audit; supporting practice with audit MIDIRS Midwifery Digest
Dec. 12(4) 508-511*
Garland, D. (2004) Is the use of water in labor
an option for women following a previous LSCS; MIDIRS Midwifery
Digest Mar 14(1) 63-67*
Burns, I. (2001) Water birth MIDIRS Midwifery
Digest. Sip 11(3) Supplement 2: S10-S13.*
Garland, D., Jones, K. (200) Water birth: supporting
practice with clinical audit MIDIRS Midwifery Digest Sip 10930
333-336*
Geissbhler, V., Eberhard, J. (200) Water births:
A comparative study. A prospective study on more that 2000 water
births. Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy. 15 291-300*
Gilbert, R., Tookey, P. (1999) Perinatal mortality
and morbidity among babies delivered in water. Surveillance study
and postal survey. BMJ. Aug 319: 483-487*
Garcia, J. (1995) Labor and birth in water in
England and Wales: a report of a survey. BJM Supplement on Water
Births. British Journal of Midwifery *
Harper, B. (2000) Water birth Basics; From Newborn
Breathing to Hospital Protocols Midwifery Today Summer 9-15*
Geissbuehler, V., Eberhard, J., Lebrecht, A.
(2002) Water birth: Water Temperature and bathing time; mother
knows best! Journal of Perinatal Medicine 30 371-378*
Ockenden, J. (2001) The hormonal dance of labor; The Practicing
Midwife 4 (6) 16-18*
Robertson, A. (2003) the Pain of Labor; A Feminist
Issue
http://www.acegraphics.com.au/articles/painlabour.html accessed
30.06.03
Wolahan, A., Howes, V. (2003) My Birth Story Practicing Midwife
Jan 6(1) 12-19*
* www.borninwater.co.uk
