The Most Important Water Birth Pros and Cons

Pregnancy is one of the most fulfilling experiences an aspiring mother will go through. Through you will be experiencing pain, you will also learn to love and prepare for the next years to come. When you’re close to the delivery date, there are different ways to give birth. While you’ll be able to go to the hospital, you can also give birth from the comforts of your home. Water birth is a popular and common way to give birth, but what are it’s pros and cons?

In this article, we show you everything you need to know about water birth, as well as the water birth pros and cons for better understanding.

What is Water Birth?

<img class=”tve_image” alt=”” src=”https://sarahslovelyfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/What-is-Water-Birth.jpg?ad713f&ad713f” style=”width: 3008px”>

Water birth is a natural way of giving birth, not done in the hospital, but usually at home. It is where a pregnant woman would deliver her child in the water. The process is done in a hot tub, pool, or a bathtub.

This method of delivery was introduced in the United States during the 80s, known as a much more gentler alternative for traditional birth. While water births aren’t widely advocated (yet) due to the lack of statistical studies, there are hundreds of hospitals across the United States that offer such service. Midwives and nurse practitioners can also provide their services at home or in birthing centers.

The process is done through giving birth with half the woman’s body underwater. Once the baby is delivered, he is immediately pulled out (to avoid drowning) and either placed in the mother’s arms or the midwife for her to check the vital signs.

How Does Water Birth Work?

<img class=”tve_image” alt=”” src=”https://sarahslovelyfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/How-Does-Water-Birth-Work.jpg?ad713f&ad713f” style=”width: 1834px”>

• You have the choice as to whether you want to go through labor or delivery in water or both. There will be a midwife and the woman’s loved ones to help support her as she goes through the pain of labor.
• The water temperature is monitored closely, with someone making sure that it stays between 35 to 37 degrees Celsius. This is the recommended temperature because it is similar to the amniotic fluid the baby lived in during his time in the mother’s womb. Through keeping this temperature, the baby will not be in shock from the different environment.
• Once the woman is ready to give birth, she will go in the pool or tub. After delivery, the baby will be pulled out immediately and checked for any health issues. If the baby is healthy, he will be given to the mother, with both of them being checked for any problems that may come after delivery.

Is Water Birth Safe?

There are thousands of women around the world who have gone through water birth without any problem. It’s considered as a safe traditional birthing method because of the many benefits it has to offer!

Your baby will not drown when delivering underwater, as they will naturally hold their breath and will be immediately pulled out. It also helps lessen the pain for expectant mothers, making it a safe and healthy choice.

But of course, this will need to go through an evaluation with your medical team. It’s best to inquire if water birth for you and our baby is safe.

Water Birth Pros and Cons

Before choosing water birth, you will need to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of giving birth using this method. It won’t only take a medical team to assess its safety for you and your baby, but upon personal preference as well.

Here are the water birth pros and cons to help you make your choice:

<img class=”tve_image” alt=”” src=”https://sarahslovelyfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/waterbirth-pros.jpg?189db0&189db0&ad713f&ad713f” style=”width: 2000px”>

Pros

• PRIVACY : When giving birth at home, you have more privacy and control. You’ll be undisturbed by the noise and business of a hospital, as you have the choice to dim the lights or add anything that helps you relax. It will be quiet, you are undisturbed, but with the help you need.
• LIGHTWEIGHT : Just like swimming, you feel lighter and will find it easier to move around to find a comfortable position. A tip is to keep your knees lower than the hips.
• LESS PAIN : Contractions are one of the most painful parts of labor. Through water birth, you will be able to cope with the pain because of the warm water. Water birth is known to lessen the pain around the joints because of the hot water and ease of moving around.
• CONTROL : Water helps boost your energy during labor, making it easier to deliver your baby. It is also known to produce less adrenaline and maintain your focus more on giving birth.

<img class=”tve_image” alt=”” src=”https://sarahslovelyfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Is-Water-Birth-Safe.jpg?189db0&189db0&ad713f&ad713f” style=”width: 1999px”>

Cons

• Uncomfortable Environment : Because you feel more free underwater, you may push out waste during delivery. While this may be uncomfortable and embarrassing, your midwife will be able to handle it.
• Infection : Because you may pass waste while delivering your baby, he may end up being infected. But the midwife or nurse will be able to prevent or treat it quickly. There are rare instances where the baby suffers from a brain injury due to the lack of oxygen when underwater.
• Not Much Pain Relief : While the warm water soothes your muscles, it won’t automatically relieve all the pain. It is only used to help relax, but not as the number one pain reliever.

After Choosing Water Birth

When you think water birth is for you, here are some factors you will need to consider to prepare for the delivery date properly:

• Find a reputable midwife or nurse practitioner who is familiar with water birth and will assure you both safety and comfort during the labor and delivery.
• check You will need to make sure that you are eligible for the water birth, meaning you are healthy and suffering from no medical condition.
• check It’s best to search for another alternative if you suffer from epilepsy, high weight if your labor is premature or induced by a hormone. If your baby has health concerns, then it’s best to visit a hospital for delivery.
• check When choosing a pool or tub for your water birth, evaluate the space needed. It’s best to have enough room for comfort. Also, the temperature should be regulated. You can also look for a good hospital that caters to water birth.

Conclusion

When it comes to pregnancy and giving birth, you have a lot of options to choose from. With water birth as an option that’s slowly becoming popular, you may want to consider its benefits for both mother and baby.

Hopefully, this article on the water birth pros and cons helps you become more knowledgeable about the things you need to know about water birth and if you should go through it or not. At least now, you know your options and will have a better plan once your delivery date arrives.

We hope you found the article informative! If you have any more questions or other thoughts regarding the water birth pros and cons, then comment down below. We would love to hear what you have to think.

Other Related Articles:

1. How to Maintain Your Health during Pregnancy