Water Birth for Easier Labor and Delivery

Water birth is the gentlest way to have a baby.

Just ask anyone who's experienced childbirth both conventionally AND in a pool of warm water and they'll tell you the same thing – water birth is the only way to go.

Whether you have your baby at home or in a hospital, labor and delivery in water is easier and generally a more pleasant experience for both mother and baby.

Water Birth History

During the 60s, Russian researcher Igor Charkovsky started studying the benefits of waterbirth. In the 80s, midwives in the U.S. used it as a home birthing method. And by the 90s, the idea had spread widely throughout western cultures.

Researchers in England, France and the U.S. have found waterbirth to be as safe, if not safer than conventional bedbirth. There are no known cases of any water-related complications for either mother or child.

There are currently thousands of hospitals set up with birthing pools in Europe. In the U.S., many birthing centers and hospitals are also well equipped.

Research Results

One study of 5,953 low-risk British expectant mothers were allowed to choose between three birthing methods. 2,362 picked conventional bedbirth. 1,108 used a birthing stool. And 2,014 chose waterbirth. There were big differences.

Whereas 35% of bedbirth mothers and 28% using birthing stools required episiotomies, only 13% of waterbirth mothers needed an episiotomy.

There were also fewer lacerations, lower blood loss and less need for painkillers with waterbirth. On top of all this, mothers found the birthing experience to be much more satisfying and the waterbirth baby's Apgar scores were significantly higher.

Five Waterbirth Advantages for Mother and Baby

1. Decreased pain and stress during labor – Hydrotherapy, using the relaxation and buoyancy of warm water, has been used for centuries to ease pain and mental anguish. It causes a better balance of hormones to be released from the endocrine system, with less stressful adrenaline and more "feel-good" endorphins.

2. Less need for medication or caesarean – The buoyancy and warmth also cause the release of oxytocin – the hormone responsible for labor contractions. This helps a woman move more naturally through the labor process.

3. An easier more pain-free delivery – The warmth and relaxation improves the elasticity of the perineum, which means less chance of tearing or need for surgical incisions. Buoyancy supports the body, allowing freedom of movement into more comfortable positions.

4. Increased options / decreased costs – Specially designed waterbirth pools have waterbed style heaters to maintain an optimum water temperature. And they're large enough to accommodate a labor-support person such as the father or a midwife. But, if you're on a tight budget, a roomy standard tub works just fine.

5. Less trauma for baby – Childbirth can be a strenuous experience for baby as well as mom. Hydrotherapy eases the transition from womb to the outside world and helps the baby adjust. The warm water resembles the uterus environment that a baby's been used to and softens the new experience of lights and noise.

See pictures of the Water Birth of My Granddaughter.

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Note: The information contained on this website is not intended to be prescriptive. Any attempt to diagnose or treat an illness should come under the direction of a physician who is familiar with nutritional therapy.