Water Birth 

An experience of water birth may involve part or all of the labor process taking place in a heated pool. Water birth can take place at a hospital or in your own home. The midwife (a trained person who assists women during childbirth) or the doctor usually assists during the water birth process. Water births are becoming more common in hospitals and birthing centers because they can reduce pain, reduce anesthesia use, and shorten the birthing process. 

Many people believe that water birth can reduce complications of a fetus and reduces stress of the mother giving birth. Many benefits include:

-free movement and more positions increase because of the buoyancy of water

-The buoyancy of the water also helps more efficient uterine contractions along with 

the circulation of blood is improved

-better oxygenation, decreasing the pain for the mother 

water helps the perineum (area between the anus and scrotum or vulva) become more relaxed, reducing tearing. 

Although there are many factors contributing that say water birth is a great option, there could also be some risks and concerns:

-The baby or mom could contract an infection

-Before the baby comes out of the water, the umbilical cord could snap

-The baby may suck in the water, and may not be able to breathe 

An umbilical cord snapping could be life-threatening to the baby.

Water birth is used for pain relief and relaxation, and people have been doing this long throughout history. Some studies show that waterbirth is less painful than normal vaginal birth. It takes less time to give birth in water than it does to give birth vaginally. (Mollamahmutoglu, Moraloglu, Ozyer, Su, Karayalcin, Hancerlioglu, Uzunlar, Dilmen, 2012). In a study of women giving water birth vs. regular vaginal birth, the women who gave water birth more likely were unable to feel the pain.  (Mollamahmutoglu, Moraloglu, Ozyer, Su, Karayalcin, Hancerlioglu, Uzunlar, Dilmen, 2012). Labor in water may overcome a stress response that women receive while giving birth; it aids relaxation and relieves pain. Advantages of submersion in water during delivery include:

-pain reduction

-A larger functional pelvis diameter

-contraction quality has been improved

-Endorphins released in greater quantities 

-less of a need for opiates

-In various stages of labor, the mother is able to move more and be better positioned 

Cochrane researchers conducted data from women in labor submersed in water and regular out-of-water delivery. Their study found women submersed in water experienced decreased pain and a decrease in anxiety from the mothers giving birth. In general, research has shown that mothers who give birth in water require fewer pain medications, and they are happier with the pain relief they receive than women who give birth normally.

References 

Mollamahmutoğlu, L., Moraloğlu, Ö., Özyer, Ş., Su, F. A., Karayalçın, R., Hançerlioğlu, N., Uzunlar, Ö., & Dilmen, U. (2011). The effects of

  immersion in water on labor, birth and newborn and comparison with epidural analgesia and conventional vaginal delivery. 

Journal of the Turkish German Gynecological Association, 13(1), 45-49. https://doi.org/10.5152/jtgga.2012.03

Dekker, R. (2018, December 14). Water immersion during labor for pain relief. Evidence Based Birth®. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/water-immersion-during-labor-for-pain-relief/ 

WebMD. (n.d.). Water birth information: Benefits and risks of Water Birth. WebMD. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from 

https://www.webmd.com/baby/water-birth 

Editor. (2021, December 9). Water births. American Pregnancy Association. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from 

https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/labor-and-birth/water-births/