Water
Birth
 Since
the 1960s, thousands of women in many countries have been discovering
the advantages of immersion in a pool of warm water during childbirth.
Experience shows that there are many benefits including effective
pain relief, enhanced relaxation, an increased sense of privacy,
and a reduction in the need for intervention.
I am convinced that in addition to the most obvious
physiological effects of using water in labour, such as reducing
strain on the joints, muscles and ligaments that have to stretch
during birth, and softening and relaxing the perineum, the water
helps the mother to enter the deeply centred, relaxed, flowing,
instinctive state of mind that enables her to pay attention
exclusively to the signals she is receiving from her body and
the baby.
We
have found in practising rebirthing that the use of water facilitates
different states of consciousness and the individual's ability
to release and let go. This is true whether you practise rebirthing
or not - you are in the same medium.
One of the other reasons I use water in labour is that
I want the transition from life in the womb to life in the air
to be as gentle as possible for the baby.
 Babies who are born gently in a warm watery environment
and who do not have the cord cut, play with their first breaths
instead of the panic stricken gasp which was the first experience
of breathing our generation had.
You can give birth gently without water but it certainly
helps to be able to use it!" (Judith Crowe - childbirth educator,
rebirther & mother of 5)
Birth
pools are increasingly popular with couples having home births
as they can offer great natural pain relief and comfort during
labour and delivery. There are a number of different sizes and
designs of pool available to suit individual needs.
A number
of factors should be taken into account, eg. where the pool
is to be placed to support the weight of the water, the mother
and birth attendants and to allow the birth attendants adequate
access to the mother.
Hot and cold water supply (hoses are usually supplied);
Keeping water at required temperature (around 37.5°C) .
After use water is removed using a pump. For more details
on these practicalities, contact a supplier of birth pools (see
below).
 The
difference between using a birth pool and a normal bath are
enormous. The depth of water is much greater and gives the other
more buoyancy and space.
There is room for the partner to join the labouring woman
and there is better visibility and access for a birth attendant.
(In Russia, 'see-thru' pools are available!)
Pools come in a variety of designs but are all easily
assembled in minutes without any extra equipment, tools or technical
know-how! Some can be set up some time before the birth and
used for relaxation and family use. Others are designed only
for use on the "birth-day" itself.
Suppliers can usually deliver and collect the pool.
Recommended rental period is for four weeks - two weeks
before and after estimated date of arrival. The cost is approximately
£120. If using a pool with a disposable liner, you buy this
for around £40.
Do remember to talk to your midwife about your plans
to use a birth pool. Find out if she has had previous experience
and how she feels about delivery directly into the water as
opposed to only labouring in water (if this is your choice).
Below is some statistical information given to us by
an Irish supplier of birth pools.
Total bookings |
Of which
home Dublin |
Of which
home out of Dublin |
Of which
hospital
(N.I only) |
1993: 20
}
1994: 21 |
23 |
7 |
7 |
N.B. 4 cancelled before
date of collection
Three of the hospital bookings were not used because of
intervention eg. monitoring, drip, etc. None of the babies born
in hospital was actually born in the water - the pool was used
only during labour, not birth.
This supplier concludes that even if the pool is available
in hospitals, at present, lack of knowledge and experience coupled
with high intervention rates go against the use of it. However,
it should not be necessary to have a home birth to have a water
birth.
A number of hospitals in the U.K. have their own birth pools and/or
allow women to bring in their own pool.
Three of the home birth mothers did not use the pool because
they had very fast labours or it did not seem appropriate. There
are no figures on how many babies were born directly into the
water.
Finally, a comment on waterbirth by a mother:
"Using a waterbirth pool gave me a sense of privacy and
my own space. The feeling of weightlessness in the water helped
relieve the pain as I had a feeling of great freedom to move about
and work with the contractions."
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