Waterbirth
Waterbirth is available to both birth center and home birth clients. Waterbirth with a skilled midwife provides many benefits, including exceptional pain relief for the laboring mother. Warm water promotes relaxation and the support of the water enables the mother to easily move about and be in any position she chooses.
Waterbirth is safe. Babies have a diving reflex that prevents them from breathing while under water. Babies are moved from the water and up to mom’s chest shortly after the birth. Because waterbirth babies are born from water into water, they are supported in a gentle transition to life outside. Infants born in the water often relax and kick their legs soon after birth. Waterbirth has become more and more popular around the world. For more information, see Waterbirth International.
Benefits of Waterbirth
- Relaxation for the mother.
- Pain relief that aids in achieving a natural childbirth.
- Water creates support and equal pressure on all parts of a woman’s body.
- Lower adrenalin (fight or flight response) levels are produced, resulting in better oxytocin and oxygen flow to the mother, increased blood supply to the uterus, and contractions that are more efficient.
- Improved blood supply to the placenta also improves the unborn baby’s oxygen levels.
- Blood pressure of the birthing mother improves.
- Water provides flexibility to easily change positions and aids in the descent of the baby through the birth canal.
- Birth from water into water is a gentle transition for the baby.
- There is less risk of tearing and skin tissue trauma to mother and less risk of tissue trauma to baby.