Using Water for Labour and Birth - why people use birthing pools

Birth educator Amy Maclean explains why more people are choosing to use a birthing pool during labour, covering the physiology of birth and how to use a birth pool. The pool used in the video is Birth Pool in a Box - http://www.birthpoolinabox.com

Category:

Education

Tags:

• waterbirth
• water birth
• birthing pool
• birth pool
• birthing pools
• birth pools
• home birth
• homebirth

[Hollyweed1]

Well can a baby get hurt by getting birth upright forward-leaning position.. I mean does the baby fall in the bottom of the pool or floats... please I need some explanation!?

Thank you.

P.S. Im not a woman.

[GoodBirthCo]

@Hollyweed1 The best thing is for a partner or midwife to catch the baby as it emerges. It's important that the baby's face remains above water once air has touched the face because it appears that cool air on the face triggers breathing. In one of my wife's births, our baby shot out and floated face down in the water. I then picked him up and brought his face above water and then placed him on my wife's chest. It is amazing....

[GoodBirthCo]

@Hollyweed1 In my experience (3 kids born in water), the baby floats - he/she does not hit the pool base at high speed. If you are concerned about that, you may prefer an inflatable pool. These are also more comfortable for the mother.

[meowmixtat]

Can you have an epidural and a water birth?

[GoodBirthCo]

@meowmixtat I am not aware of any hospital that will let you get into a birthing pool after having an epidural. The two are kind of opposites: one is about embracing the birth process and the other is, well, about not embracing the birth process.

[TrueLeah]

I just had a waterbirth yesterday and all of the things this lady is saying is what made my labor so beneficial and rewarding. I naturally found myself in that position and wiggling my hips around naturally, the water felt wonderful!! I was able to lean back during contractions like she said to! I breathed my baby down the canal and out without pushing and I didn't tear. When my daughter was out she looked around so peaceful still being half way submerged in the warm water.  Thank you!!

[kenjahsmom]

@Hollyweed1 The forward leaning pelvis reduces the chance for babies head to bruise. By opening the pelvis you are making the bones move a bit out of the babys way. Thus reducing strain on baby. Good Questions.

[crazybabysittertwin]

thanks for posting this. very informative and very reassuring (i hope) to those who need to hear from a medical stand-point why laboring in water is both beneficial and safe from a professional. i'm planning a home birth for my first baby and my very protective big brother is the most nervous one in the whole family! i think he'll feel a bit better after seeing this. thanks!

[nickymace]

Wow I am sure this is the lady who did my antenatal class at the Women's hospital Birmingham a few weeks ago! She was very good!

[DontHateMeCrazy]

@xxxcleoangelxxx

Hey, I have read a little about this because I was conserned myself. First of all, you must have had a "perfect" pregnancy with no complications, your baby must not be premature (you must give birth between week 37 & 40), you can't have diabetes or preeclampsia. There are other factors too, but I don't remember them now. But as long as you are healthy and the baby is doing good, you should get your water birth. Good luck to you.

[DontHateMeCrazy]

Thank you!

[leanncraigo]

@kagomeXokami wow, not so bright or educated on this subject...

[leanncraigo]

@meowmixtat no, because epidural can slow breathing and heart rates AND you cannot move your own legs with an epidural...waterbirth is for natural unmedicated births

[amiette]

great video! i'm studying to be a doula! :) love to hear information and everything. great stuff.

[amiette]

@kagomeXokami im sorry. do babies get shit out? grow up.