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Just as a home birth, anyone can have a waterbirth as long as there are no medical contra-indications. It is a womans right (law in the U.K.) to give birth where and how she chooses. (and not where her G.P. , obstetrician or anyone else chooses.) We know of women who have had breech deliveries, and VBAC deliveries ( vaginal birth after caesarean ) in water. Also first babies, fifth babies, eighth babies and beyond have been born in water. Women of any shape, size and age can and have used pools, including their husbands/partners !Water is very good for long labours and also for lowering blood pressure, so long as this is not related to pre-eclampsia. Even if the baby has to be born out of water perhaps because the baby is in distress or the labour isn’t progressing, and you need the added benefit of gravity, then the water is excellent for labour.
Infection isn't really a problem, the mother and baby share the same anti-bodies, so the baby cannot catch anything from its mother. With some pools you will have your own brand new disposable liner that no one else has used, so there is no risk of cross contamination. Please be cautious of pools where there are no disposable liners.In John Radcliffe hospital in there have been over 300 waterbirths and not one case of infection. To Oxford, U.K. date there is no known evidence to show that babies or mothers are at risk of infection due to waterbirths. It has too be said that you are far more likely to get an infection from airborne bacteria in a ‘dry’ hospital delivery than from a waterbirth. In some hospitals as many as 25% of women and babies get infections in ‘land’ deliveries. This is another good reason for a home birth, water or not, you will not be catching an infection from your own toilet or bath !The only word of caution I would give is that if the water has been in the pool for more than 24 hours then it is best to change it, just in case bugs do start to breed. Also if you want to test run the pool, use the disposable liner as the permanent liner cannot be totally bug free. use a pool without a new disposable liner. Pools that do not use Do not this method cannot be guaranteed not to carry any bacteria from a previous birth.
As with a
‘dry’ labour a midwife can
check the baby’s heart by asking the
mother to stand or float and using a
foetal monitor or waterproof sonicaid and
can take any action necessary.
The baby doesn’t drown for two
reasons. The first is that the baby is
getting oxygen from the mother via the
umbilical cord attached to the placenta.
The second is that it doesn’t start
to breath until it reaches cool air, this
stimulates the breathing reflex. After
the baby is born it is best to bring the
baby to the surface as quickly ( but
gently) as possible. This is to avoid any
problems if the placenta separate early.
Medically controlled research of 1,000
waterbirths have shown that not one baby
breathed underwater.
A lot of women
prefer the comfort and privacy of their
own home and a pool adds to the joy of
childbirth. The relaxing intimate
atmosphere at home often means less pain
in labour and if a women has a water
labour/birth then its even less
painful.In a hospital where the
surroundings are often alien and
frightening especially for the first time
mother, the pool can give her a space of
her own, a feeling of security and a
sense of privacy, this is particularly
appreciated in these conditions.
Most women relax as soon as they enter
the warm water. It lowers adrenalin and
encourages endorphins, the hormones that
are the bodies own pain relievers, also
known as ‘the feel good’
hormone.Also, positive sensations eg.
warmth, touch, stroking, (that give
comfort,) travel to the brain faster than
negative sensations eg. pain from
contractions. Therefore the warmth from
the water and the relaxing benefits
override the negative effects of pain and
fear of labour. some pain is caused
through fear which creates tension and
this blocks the endorphins. The warmth
from the water inhibits the pain
sensations by blocking the messages. Many
mothers find they need no additional pain
relief, a small number may use additional
gas and air. For a few women pain relief
from water can only help for a while then
they need additional pain relief, but in
our experience this is a small number.
The water supports the weight of the baby
and eases the many aches and pains of
late pregnancy helping the mother to
relax and so the endorphine level rises.
The support of the water allows the
mother to adopt any position which she
finds comfortable without getting too
tired. Being in water also helps to
soften the perineum and makes it easier
to be born without tearing or needing an
episiotomy and therefore no stitches.
Women with high blood pressure have found
that after they enter the water their
blood pressure lowers. This also takes
away the worry that comes with high blood
pressure, thus bringing more relief and
more benefits.
The baby has been in amniotic water through pregnancy and being born in water is a gentle transition from the womb to your loving arms, water is familiar to the baby and helps him to feel more secure. Waterbabies tend to be more alert and recover from the birth more quickly, this may also be because the labour is more relaxed and calmer. Many midwives have noticed that the babies are born smiling and are happier. Waterbabies rarely cry at birth.
About 36.5 - 37.5 C for the birth, but whatever is comfortable for the mother during labour, as long as it isn’t too hot as this can lead to exhaustion and contractions may slow down. It has been suggested that if the water is too hot ie. over 39 C this can cause problems for the baby, although there is no proof of this, it is best to err on the side of caution and not have the water much higher than body temperature, it would be uncomfortable for the mother at that temperature anyway. The room temperature should also be comfortable for the mother, this may be cooler than the baby will need . After the baby is born and breathing established the room should be quickly warmed up before the mother and baby leave the pool.
