According to Greek and Indian legends, shallow water birthing has been used for birthing since the beginning of time. The first medically recorded in the modern Western world waterbirth was in France in 1803 after 48 hours of prolonged labor. The midwife suggested a warm bath, and the baby was born soon after the mom was immersed in the water. It is sometimes the simplest of things that can make a world of difference. A change of environment and connection to a natural element can have a mesmerizing effect on birthing women.
Birthing in water embodies a spiritual aspect of birth that is hard to define. Seventy percent of the earth is water, 90% of a newborn’s body is water, 60% or an adult’s body is water. I feel this has something to do with it.
Being immersed in water is soothing on any day, taking a bath is associated with relaxation, self-care and even being sensual. The water provides a calming influence and a peaceful relaxed atmosphere. When laboring moms enter into the water, the affect tends to be a feeling of relief. It allows for spontaneous movement of the mother, giving her freedom to move as her body and the position of the baby dictate.
The water creates a barrier
to the world and the tub can become the woman’s cave, or nest. If the pool is
large enough, partners can get into the water as well which can initiate a
feeling of intimacy and the two can labor together. Often partners feel as if they are more involved in the process.
When should the mother enter the bath?
There is physiological date that supports the rule of not entering the water until active labor is established, or the cervix is 5cm. However, a bath in early labor can be useful for its calming effect and to determine if labor has actually started. The water can sometimes flow or stop labor if used to early.
On the other hand, some women can go from 1cm to complete dilation within one to two hours of immersion. I have actually seen this happen with a first time mom!! She came to the Birth Center in early labor and of course with our initial assessment we thought is was going to be a long night. We decided to put her in the tub both because we knew it would feel good and we wanted to assess whether she was in true labor. And sure enough, when I checked her dilation again 2 or so hours later, she was completely dilated. Her beautiful baby was born in the water and it was not a long night after all. Birth is amazing, and you just never know what the story will be until your baby is in your arms.
If contractions do space out after being in the water for an hour or become less effective, it important to get out of the water until contractions pick up again. Your midwife or OB should be trained and experienced waterbirth and have the skills necessary to help guide you.
When should the mother enter the bath?
There is physiological date that supports the rule of not entering the water until active labor is established, or the cervix is 5cm. However, a bath in early labor can be useful for its calming effect and to determine if labor has actually started. The water can sometimes flow or stop labor if used to early.
On the other hand, some women can go from 1cm to complete dilation within one to two hours of immersion. I have actually seen this happen with a first time mom!! She came to the Birth Center in early labor and of course with our initial assessment we thought is was going to be a long night. We decided to put her in the tub both because we knew it would feel good and we wanted to assess whether she was in true labor. And sure enough, when I checked her dilation again 2 or so hours later, she was completely dilated. Her beautiful baby was born in the water and it was not a long night after all. Birth is amazing, and you just never know what the story will be until your baby is in your arms.
If contractions do space out after being in the water for an hour or become less effective, it important to get out of the water until contractions pick up again. Your midwife or OB should be trained and experienced waterbirth and have the skills necessary to help guide you.
Benefits of being in water:
- Provides significant pain relief
- Promotes relaxation
- Reduces the need for drugs and interventions
- Gives mother a private protected space
- Reduces perineal trauma
- Reduces blood pressure
- Reduces cesarean section rates
- Encourages an easier birth for mother and a gentler welcome for baby
A newborn's first breath:
How amazing is the thought of a newborn coming into the world and taking in its first breath. The question of what happens when a baby is born under water is often asked when women considering waterbirth. To keep it simple, when in the womb babies are water breathers as they are surrounded by amniotic fluid. What initiates breath in the newborn is a change in environment from water into air after they are born. This change in environment sets of a chain of chemical, hormonal and physical responses which initiates the baby's first breath. And therefore, in the case of waterbirth newborns then initiate their first breath when their heads come up and out of the water.
If you want to use water in your labor, the first step is to talk to your midwife or OB to see what resources are available and to discuss whether having a waterbirth is right for you. Keep in mind that depending on where you are having your baby, home or in the hospital water can be utilized in many ways. Some women labor in the tub and want to get out to deliver, showers are also very effective. Remembering that water is a natural element, being submersed in it, drinking it, or just having a cold cloth drenched in it on your forehead can offer relief.
Resources:
Michel Odent, The Science of Waterbirth.
http://youtu.be/I2GVllNsZi8
www.waterbirth.org
Birth As We Know It
http://youtu.be/wVmlBVJQozM
