Women want a natural, empowering birth, but they also want effective tools to help manage its intensity! They are exploring their options and finding water birth at the top of their Google searches. (Well, waterbirth and Embrace, of course!).
While the idea of giving birth in a warm water pool might seem unconventional to your mother-in-law, the benefits it offers to mums, bums, and babies are numerous!
While Richmond hospitals are offering water labor, we LOVE waterbirth!!
Let’s dive into why we think water labor should be on your birth plan!
What is a Water Birth?
A water birth involves giving birth in a pool of warm water. This can take place at a birthing center, a hospital that offers water labor options, or even in the comfort of your own home using a home birth pool.
The warm water provides a soothing environment that can help manage pain naturally, offering a sense of calm and relaxation during labor and delivery. Many moms find that the buoyancy of the water supports their bodies, making it easier to adopt different labor positions.
How Water Birth Helps Manage Pain Naturally
If you’re seeking a more natural way to manage pain during labor, giving birth in the water is definitely worth considering. The warmth of the water can be incredibly soothing, helping you relax both physically and mentally.
This comforting environment promotes the release of endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain relievers.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed, many mothers find that the water makes their labor experience more manageable and less stressful.
Let’s take a closer look at how this approach can enhance your birthing journey and make it a more positive experience overall.
Natural Relaxation
When women immerse themselves in warm water, the ahhhh comes immediately.
Warm water promotes relaxation, which can lower stress hormones and encourage the release of endorphins—your body’s natural painkillers.
We all know that a bath on Sunday night or a long hot shower can reset our attitude. In labor, warm water can lead to a more positive and less painful birth experience.
A full 97% of women who had a waterbirth said they would do it again! That’s a powerful testament to its effectiveness!
Water’s Buoyant Support
The buoyancy of the water also supports your body, reducing the pressure on your joints and muscles.
This can help you stay in positions that feel right for as long as you need.
- Squat?
- Hands and Knees?
- Sidelying?
Positions that help your baby navigate their way into your arms are all possibilities in a water birth tub.
So water literally supports your natural labor, emotionally and physically, and that’s a Win-Win!
Water Birth Benefits at a Glance
| Benefit | Description |
| Natural Pain Relief for Water Birth | Warm water reduces stress hormones and releases endorphins, offering a soothing effect that can lessen the perception of pain during labor. |
| Reduced Interventions | Lower need for epidurals and C-sections due to the natural pain relief and relaxation offered by water. |
| Support for Various Positions | Buoyancy makes it easier to adopt comfortable labor positions, aiding in the baby’s journey through the birth canal. |
| Gentle Transition for Baby | Warm water eases the shift from the womb to the outside world, often resulting in calmer, less crying newborns. |
| Improved Perineal Flexibility | Warm water helps to soften and increase the elasticity of the perineum, reducing the chances of tearing. |
Yoga Class for your Bum
When it comes to preparing for childbirth, water birth has some surprising benefits on your vagina.
Let’s explore how this soothing aspect of water birth can support your body and create a smoother experience as you welcome your baby into the world.
1. Softening the Perineum
One of the incredible benefits of water birth is the gentle effect it has on your vagina and perineum during birth.
The warm water helps to soften the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus), increasing its elasticity and reducing the likelihood of tearing.
Tissues get soft and stretchy, and birthing your baby is easier.
2. Fewer Episiotomies
One waterbirth study says there were ZERO episiotomies (a surgical cut to the perineum) which always makes us laugh, because who’s cutting episiotomies underwater?!?
Who’s cutting episiotomies at all?!?!
They need to stop it. Right. Now.
Waterbirth is Not Only for Merbabies
Your baby’s journey into the world is a major transition, and natural childbirth in water helps make it gentler.
Babies are surrounded by amniotic fluid in the womb, which is their first home, so being born into warm water feels like home, but with a bit more space!
The gentle, warm water reduces the shock of leaving your warm body, helping your baby make a calm and peaceful entrance into the world.
Babies born in water often cry less right after birth, making those first moments more magical for them- and you!
Birthing Center Water Birth vs. Home Birth Pool
When it comes to choosing the perfect spot for your water labor, you’re faced with two fabulous options: birthing centers and birthing pool.
A birthing center offers a cozy, professional atmosphere where trained experts are right there if you need them, like a safety net for your grand adventure.
On the other hand, a home birth lets you be the captain of your ship, surrounded by the comforting sights and sounds of your own space.
So, whether you prefer the extra support or the freedom of home, let’s dive into the pros and cons of each option, making sure you find the perfect place to welcome your little one into the world!
1. Birthing Center Water Birth
For some moms, a water birthing center is ideal. When hospitals don’t offer waterbirth, and home birth is not an option, birthing centers come in for the win!
Many birthing centers are designed to create a home-like atmosphere, so you can feel cozy and cared for without being in a hospital. Plus, at Embrace, our tubs offer endless hot water to fill and refill the tub, squat bars, shower massages, and room for both you and your partner! It’s a perfect blend of comfort and peace of mind.
2. Home Birth Pool
Other mothers prefer to be home for their birth. If you love the idea of welcoming your baby in the comfort of your own home, a portable birthing pool or birth tub might be the right choice. Having enough hot water to fill and refill a 160-200 gallon tub, a clean hose, a sump pump, and birth water on your floor are all things you need to consider.
Home birth can feel like you have more control over the environment, and certainly can feel comfortable and familiar.
In Birth, Less Can Be More
Water birthing has been shown to need lower rates of medical interventions, such as epidurals and cesarean sections.
The natural pain relief provided by the water often reduces the need for epidurals, which is why we call it the “Midwife’s Aqua-dural!”
The relaxed vibe can help labor progress more smoothly, decreasing the chance of needing a C-section.
Low-tech, high-touch, empowered care aligns with the principles of midwifery care here at Embrace, focusing on supporting your body’s natural ability to give birth.
FAQs About Water Birth
1. What is a water birth?
Giving birth in the water or water birth is when a mother spends the labor and/or delivery phase in a pool of warm water. The warmth helps ease pain and support a natural childbirth in water, offering a gentler, more soothing experience for both mom and baby.
2. Is waterbirth safe?
Yes, water birth is considered safe for most healthy pregnancies when done under the care of a trained professional. It’s important to discuss your circumstances with your midwife or doctor to ensure a safe experience.
3. What are the main benefits of water birth?
Advantages of water birth include natural pain relief, fewer interventions, and a gentler transition for the baby into the world. It’s a relaxing environment that supports both mom and baby during this special time.
Are you a Waterbirther? Let’s Find Out!
Water labor offers a unique, gentle, and natural way to bring your baby into the world.
By supporting your body’s natural processes and providing a calming environment, water birth benefits mums, bums, and babies alike.
If you want a natural childbirth in water, give us a call at 804-596-BABY (2229). Let’s co-create a positive, empowering experience for you and your little one.
