Water for Labor and Babies: Use Water for a Peaceful, Happy Labor!
Water for labor and to prepare for and/or birth in is truly one of the most beneficial ways to experience labor and help bring your baby into the world.
Why Women Choose Water for Labor & Birth
Being pregnant makes our bodies become awkward and achy. When you go into labor, immersing yourself in a warm pool of water or even the shower, reduces a lot of the back, leg, and tummy pain you’ve been living with for the past few months. Once you immerse your body in the warm water, which usually is heated between 95 and 100 degrees for your comfort, you’ll feel like you can move around more easily. Moving into various positions, such as leaning forward, squatting, and kneeling in the warm bath makes gravity work for you, because it helps your baby make his or her way down the birth canal.
Positive Impact on Mama and Baby
It’s not only a reduced or pain-free birth that women can look forward to. Women who give birth using water during the process have always known it, and experts agree that using water has the following benefits:
For Mama
- Reduces your blood pressure.
- Increases your oxytocin levels, the hormone that makes new moms produce breast milk.
- Makes your perineal skin — the skin in your vagina — softer, meaning less potential for tearing and no episiotomy.
- Alleviates pressure off your back and hips.
- Breathing and pushing comes naturally because your body knows what it needs to do and you know instinctively when to do it.
For Baby
- Gentle, calm awakening
- No crying
- Easy transition to breastfeeding
Your baby is attached to the umbilical cord and knows innately how and when to breathe.
Plan to use water during labor
You can use your home tub or shower throughout the early – early active part of labor. You can rent a pool for a home birth through your midwife or use your own tub, just remember to check the temperature. The rest of the time during labor we walk, dance and ultimately it’s all about relaxing, meditating, and doing what comes naturally. It’s a great idea to play soft, soothing music, if that sort of thing helps you, and to dim the lights. As for the rest, your doula and loved ones with help you so that you and baby can heave a peaceful, happy labor.
If you’re looking to find a doula to assist with your water birth, Debra is a certified professional doula for both labor and postpartum, helping you through pregnancy, birth & beyond. Specializing in assisting mothers to have a calmer, more natural birth.
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