About Underwater Childbirth

Underwater Birth Facts

• Underwater birth involves the mother laboring and/or delivering in tub of water. Depending on your location, you can use your tub at home, a portable birthing tub or a Jacuzzi type tub in a birthing center or hospital. During the laboring process, your partner can be in the water with you to offer comfort if you prefer. Some women prefer to labor and deliver in the birthing tub, while others choose to just labor in the tub to reap the benefits of the water on the labor process, then switch to a bed or other surface for the actual delivery.

Underwater Birth Benefits

• Underwater birth has several benefits to both the laboring mother and newborn baby. Laboring in the water gives the mother buoyancy, giving the feeling of weightlessness that makes moving and changing positions easier during labor. Water might also soothe and lessen the labor pains and the bouncing in the water may produce more efficient contractions and better oxygenation of the uterine cavity, according to the American Pregnancy Association. If you are uncomfortable with the act of having your privates exposed during labor and delivery, birthing underwater might give you a sense of privacy. For your newborn, entering the world into an environment similar to the amniotic sac might reduce the stress on the baby.

Underwater Birth Risks

• While water birth has grown in popularity over the last three decades, according to the American Pregnancy Association, there are some risks to consider when you are choosing a labor and birth plan. Though babies do not typically take the first breath until after the baby comes out of the water, a twisted or kinked umbilical cord or fetal stress may cause the baby to aspirate water as it gasps coming out of the birth canal, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Other risks include exposure to water contaminated with the mother̵7;s fecal matter or meconium if the baby has the first bowel movement in utero. Additional risks with underwater birth, though very rare, include drowning, neonatal hyponatremia -- an imbalance of sodium and water in the blood -- hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy -- a lack of oxygen to the brain -- cord rupture and in some cases death, according to a 2005 report in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ̶0;The Risks of Underwater Birth.̶1;

Underwater Birth Considerations

• Before deciding on an underwater birth, speak with your obstetrician, midwife or healthcare provider about whether an underwater birth is safe for you to attempt. If you have herpes, are not full-term when in labor, have any infections, excessive bleeding, toxemia or preeclampsia, an underwater birth may not be safe for you, according to the American Pregnancy Association. While you might be successful with an underwater birth with a breach baby or twins, discuss the options with your healthcare provider. The birthing tub should stay at 98 degrees Fahrenheit to protect both you and your baby from overheating and your partner or healthcare provider should continually monitor the temperature.