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Water Birth |
Pregnant and birthing women have always been drawn to water in its many forms...from swimming in salty oceans to more prosaic rituals in the family tub! Is this because we intuitively understand that we are recreating life in our own internal seas? Anyone who has ever been exposed to the fascinating and unmistakable smells of amniotic and birthing fluid during labor or birth will be drawn to inevitable comparisons with the ocean! In the last couple of decades as we have been rediscovering the amazing truths about physiological, natural birth, we have also been privileged to participate in the progression of thought and understanding of the use of water as an agent of healing and comfort during labor.We now know that warm water provides as much ( in some cases more! ) pain relief as traditional pharmacological methods such as demerol or epidurals...with no negative side-effects for mother or baby. Use of water for labor and/or birth is now an accepted part of birth care in many parts of North America, Europe, Russia, and other regions of the world. In Nova Scotia midwives have been offering water birth as part of a woman's care for over a decade now. MORE DETAILS Use of water during labor and/or birth is usually discussed during prenatal visits as mothers are thinking about ways of working/coping with contractions.As wonderful and multi-faceted as labor is, the reality remains that contractions are powerful and painful, especially at certain times in labor.Warm water can be an incredible support during those times when your body is working very strongly to give birth to your baby.Just floating in a tub or pool inbetween contractions can induce relaxation and relief that enables you to let go of pain and discomfort. Research has shown that the use of a birthing pool, when entered after 5 cms. dilation, actually shortens labor by several hours Mothers can still be supported physically by their partners, some of whom get right into the pool with them! Monitoring of the baby can be done underwater with the use of a specially adapted doptone or with a fetascope when used by an experienced caregiver. Mothers may remain in the pool to give birth if they wish as long as baby's heartrate remains normal and the midwife does not anticipate a difficult delivery.Some mothers remain in the pool to deliver the placenta as long as the midwife is confident that bloodloss is within normal limits. All parents are asked to set up an alternate birth area just in case the midwife thinks it necessary or the mother herself wishes to give birth outside the tub. Most parents desiring to use water during labor simply go to Canadian Tire and purchase a children's pool which can be had for under $40.00.I can provide other equipment which includes a hose, faucet adaptor, thermometer, strainer, and air pump to inflate the pool.Otherwise, all you need are some old towels and a tarp or shower curtain to protect your floor! The use of water during labor or birth is usually a decision that
mothers never regret.Fathers too benefit from seeing their partners'.
relaxation and comfort enhanced during the birthing experience...and
siblings love the fact that Mom has given birth in such a
fun environment!And as for the babies themselves, well, we can only
speculate what the far-reaching effects of such a stress-free, gentle
introduction to the outside world might mean... HAPPY BIRTHING! |