Water birth enables women to give birth in the way their bodies were designed.
“We were not designed to give birth under water!” I can hear you say!
What I mean is that water birth, like home birth is a social model rather than a medical model of birth and this is significant because the past hundred years has seen the takeover of birth by the obstetric profession.
I feel that birth pools have brought a special quality to the environment of birth, helping midwives get back to the roots of being with women. When a baby is born in a birth pool the midwife does not “deliver” it she merely guides the baby up to the surface.
The first water birth I saw totally inspired me and I have been an advocate for the power of water in connection with birth ever since. At this first water birth I saw a woman release her baby into the clear warm water and as I brought the baby to the surface it was greeted by the young mother in a magical atmosphere. I was amazed that she had not required pain relief, interventions or suturing.
Well I hope you have been encouraged to try water for your birth and when you are planning a water birth, remember that to by choosing a home birth you will guarantee the pool will be available as in Hospital the pool room could be occupied.
Once you have your pool at home then the fun begins, as this is when your partner can do a few trial runs, filling and emptying the pool, this way you are able to check that everything works and have great relaxation at the same time!
When it comes to your baby’s arrival the water must be kept at body temperature 37 degrees Celsius thus the pool becomes an extension of the warm watery medium of the womb and there is a gentle transition into the world for the baby. Moreover the baby’s dive reflex will prevent it from breathing while rising to the surface and the umbilical cord will continue to provide a steady supply of oxygen.
In short water is an amazing pain relieving medium!
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