What's all this talk about water births, have you had one before?

Question

Why would someone want a water birth?


I think its weird, please explain the benefits to me.

:)

Answer 1

If I could do it all over again, I would do a water birth. Unfortunately, the hospital nurses wanted a traditional method and insisted I keep getting on the fetal monitor and that meant to be out of the water.

During my second labor & delivery (l&d) I sat in a tub and my husband used a shower hose (hand held water Pik shower massager) on my back. The contractions were less painful and they started to even out.

It's also less traumatic for the baby, especially with the Leboyer (not sure of the spelling ) method.

It is a theory that allows the baby to leave the mother's womb and enter into a similar environment: low lights, water surroundings and warmer temperatures.

I would recommend it if you are tested negative for Strep B (they cannot allow a water birth if you are postive for that).

It is a much easier way to give birth than on the delivery table, but you have to have a midwife or doctor that is agreeable.

Answer 2

Water birth is an incredibly gentle way to bring baby into the world. Many women can vouch that laboring and birthing a baby is much easier, beautiful and more enjoying (and also safer because there is less pain and less desire for medication) than a typical hospital delivery. There are many benefits. if you are curious about water birth, an AMAZING book to read is called Gentle Birth Choices I believe it is by Suzanne Arms or Suzanne Harper or something. It's a great book she's a strong water birth and natural birth advocate and she talks about lots of other aspects of natural birth as well. You can also check out http://www.mothering.com and type water birth in their search - they will have lots of great articles as well. Mothering.com is a natural mothering website (they have a magazine too) and they have tons of great articles about natural birth, breastfeeding, and many other topics.

Answer 3

It just helps relieve the pressure/pain. It could be really relaxing while you are giving birth..I dunno, wouldn't hurt to try it. You can always back out if you want.