Water birth – convenience or oddity?
Water birth – convenience or oddity?
Relief for the future mother
Waterbirth has been around for a long time, but many women find it strange or embarrassing. It’s also worth noting that it’s not available in every hospital. If your city doesn’t offer a waterbirth option, and you really want it, you can give birth in another city, as there’s currently no zoning system. Because waterbirth is currently an option outside of basic medical care, most centers charge for it. Prices range from 200 to 600 złoty. Studies show that most women who have had a waterbirth report that it’s not very painful, even relaxing. It’s best to seek advice from women who have given birth to one child using the traditional method and another in water. Most assure you that the pain during a waterbirth is less . Water soothes contractions, relaxes, and acts almost like a painkiller. Another important advantage is that this type of birth requires episiotomy less often, and tears are minor. The skin becomes more elastic under the influence of water and the head can squeeze through more easily.
Benefits for the child
A water birth provides the baby with a sense of security. It’s shorter, allows for freedom of movement, and minimizes the shock of a change in environment, as the baby can remain in the water for a short time after birth. Light and sound are more muted in the water, and touch is more gentle.
The process of water birth
To give birth in water, you first need a bathtub. Maternity wards where water births take place have specially designed birthing tubs. These tubs must be lined with a special foil to provide bacteriological protection and then filled with water or saline at approximately 37°C. The mother-to-be can decide on the water temperature. The water should be constantly changed during labor.
A woman enters the water when her cervix is approximately 4-5 centimeters dilated. It’s up to the woman to decide whether she wants to remain in the tub until the end of labor or if she wants to take a break from the “bath.”
When a baby is born, it remains underwater for several dozen seconds, “swimming” with the midwife’s assistance. Then the baby emerges, head down, to allow it to breathe. The risk of the baby choking is practically nonexistent. Delivery of the placenta takes place out of the water for safety reasons.
Are there any contraindications?
Yes, there are a few contraindications to water birth, namely: premature birth, when the amniotic fluid is not clear, skin problems, serious chronic diseases, abnormal CTG, any complications during labor.
Let’s be modern
Dear expectant mothers, don’t be afraid of modern childbirth methods! We live in the 21st century, and we deserve all the conveniences during this important moment. Why not ease your suffering and feel at home? Let’s not deny ourselves the right to a dignified, pain-free birth.
