Water birth: what is important to know?

Pros and cons, risks and contraindications, what to bring, locations and costs of water birth, with a gallery of images to understand what to expect.

We speak of water birth when the woman faces part of labor or the entire birth immersed in a tub of hot water.

The advantages are countless: the mother feels a greater feeling of intimacy and relaxation and is facilitated in movement, managing to effortlessly assume the desired birth positions.

For this reason, more and more birth points are equipped with large tanks, in which future mothers who wish can spend all or part of labor and birth in water, until the birth of the child.

What are the benefits of water birth?

Numerous scientific studies have shown that water birth has many positive effects, both on mother and baby.

The benefits for mom

• Water birth is less painful than “traditional” birth. This is because warm water relaxes the pelvic floor muscles, reduces the production of adrenaline (stress hormone) and increases the production of endorphins. The effect is that the woman tends to perceive less pain of contractions and to require less the use of pain medication or epidural analgesia.

• Mom is more relaxed, both physically and mentally. The immersion in the tank, in fact, creates a greater feeling of intimacy, which promotes physical, mental and emotional relaxation and allows the woman to focus more on the birth of her child.

• The duration of labor and delivery is reduced. The lower muscle tension accelerates dilation and the greater sense of security and privacy helps the mother to “let go”, freeing herself from inhibitions, anxieties and fears. As a result, women who give birth in water usually have a shorter labor and delivery.
• Contractions are more effective. Water regulates blood pressure and promotes blood circulation, increases oxygenation of the uterine muscles and increases the effectiveness of contractions.

• The pelvis is more mobile. Giving birth in water allows you to feel the effects of gravity less, because the water supports the weight of the mother’s body, facilitates her movements and allows greater mobility of the pelvis. This mobility, in turn, favors the descent of the baby’s head and can even help correct some malpositions of the fetus .

• The relaxation in water birth and the humidity of the environment around the tank facilitate breathing .

• Immersion in water makes the genital tissues more elastic and reduces the risk of lacerations of the vaginoperineal area or the need for an episiotomy at the time of delivery.

The benefits for the child

• Water stimulates blood circulation and increases the oxygen supply to the unborn child, reducing the risk of fetal distress .

• Childbirth in water allows for a sweeter birth and in harmony with the mother’s perceptions tags. Indeed, once the birth is complete, the baby is gently brought to the surface by the midwife and placed on the mother’s chest. Usually the body remains immersed, while the shoulders and the little head emerge from the water. The passage between the maternal womb and the external environment therefore takes place in a more gradual and less traumatic way.

Is giving birth in water dangerous?

Water birth is a safe procedure , provided it takes place in adequately equipped facilities , with regular maintenance and sterilization of the tanks, to avoid the risk of infection.

During delivery, the well-being of mother and child is regularly monitored with instruments capable of detecting maternal blood pressure and fetal heartbeat.

In case of complications or even if the mother wishes it (for example to receive the Epidural ), the immersion in water can be stopped at any time .

Can the child drown?

No, the newborn is at no risk of drowning. In fact, remember that the child spends nine months immersed in the amniotic fluid and is equipped with the so-called diving-reflex , a reflex that keeps him in apnea until the first contact with the air. His first breath, therefore, will only occur after the midwife has gently lifted him out of the water .

When can’t you give birth in water?

Water birth has contraindications and therefore cannot be offered to all women.

In particular, it is necessary that the pregnancy is full-term and that labor starts spontaneously. As a result, the mother will not be able to give birth in water in case of:

• premature birth (before the 37th week of pregnancy )
• induced childbirth
• pregnancy
• abnormalities of the placenta
• fetal distress
• Baby breech position

Hot water, however, can be used in other forms during the preparatory phase, when contractions are still not regular. A shower, a (no more than 37°C) or the application of warm compresses on painful areas can help relax the muscles and relieve the pains of labor.

Water birth: how does it happen and what to wear?

Usually, the entry into the tub takes place when active labor has begun, ie when the cervix has reached a dilation of 3-4 centimeters, to avoid slowing down the contractions and prolonging the preparatory phase.

The water temperature is controlled with a special thermometer and can vary according to the wishes of the pregnant woman. Generally, it is kept at 36-37°C and should not exceed 38°C.

Inside the tub, the woman can assume the position she wants, accompanied by the advice of the midwife who assists her. Usually, the Inside the tub, the to support the partner.

Once the baby’s head comes out, it is usually necessary to wait for the next contraction to push and let out the rest of the body. During the break between contractions, the , without any danger of suffocation. The midwife could also use a mirror to show you her little head!

What to wear for water birth?

To give birth in water you do not need specific clothing. You can decide to wear the or remain naked.

But remember to bring with you:

• a bathrobe and non-slip slippers, for when you need to go out (for example to go to the bathroom);
• an elastic band or hair clipper (recommended if you have long hair);
• abottle of water to drink (to keep you hydrated);
• a nightgown open at the front (to be worn after childbirth for skin-to-skin contact with the newborn).

The positions of the birth in the water

Thepositions for giving birth in water are many. Below we present some of them, with the advice to experiment with them first with a midwife.

Kneeling position

Rest your knees on the ground and grasp the edge of the tub. Move back and forth: when moving forward, bend your arms and raise your head; When you go back, stretch out your arms.

Crouched position

Rest your shoulders and arms at the edge of the tub and squat with your legs spread so as to open your pelvis. He slides through the water stretching his legs and then returns to the starting position.

Kneeling and leaning position

Kneel with your legs towards the edge of the tub and rest your arms on the edge. In this way, the cervix will be tilted forward in a very useful position during the second .

Our advice

If you want to try water birth, talk to your gynaecologist or midwife to see if all the conditions exist to deal with it and find out in advance about which facilities offer it near you.

In particular, ask if the tub is present in all delivery rooms or only in some: in the latter case, in fact, there is a risk of finding them occupied.

Also, find out if the chosen structure allows you to deal with only labor or even the expulsion phase in water.

How much does it cost to give birth in water?

Water birth is completely free if performed in hospital through the National Health Service.

Alternatively, you can contact private clinics, maternity homes or midwives at home with variable costs.

To give birth at home, the rental of the childbirth pool has a cost that generally is between 180 and 400 euros, depending on the model.

In some regions, however, it is possible to claim reimbursement of home birth expenses.