Can any one here give me any info on water births or other birthing options? I appreciate your help.
I don't really know what kind of questions to ask. I heard that water births are the way to go, but I am curious as to things like the pros and cons, how it works, and maybe some other birthing options. This is my first child, and I am clueless, I admit. Basically, I am after general information. Thank you.
I would say about 70% of the births I attend are in water. Even if the woman doesn't actually birth in the water, she often labours in it. I can't think of any cons, really. The warm water soothes, calms, eases the pain of the contractions, reduces blood pressure. There's less gravity, so she can float and relax. The warm water helps the perineum stretch and be more supple, reducing the risk of tearing. The baby transitions more gently, water born babies don't cry as much as land born babes. Every once in a while, we may ask Mom to get out for a change of position, or to pee, but she can usually go back in after a little bit. Sometimes she may need to squat to push the baby down past the pubic bone, but once progress is made, she goes right back in. Honestly, I can't think of any reason not to labour in water, unless Mama just doesn't like it. I hve had a few mama's get in the tub and decide she hated it. But most, even if they don't plan on being in the tub, end up in there for at least part of her labour, and most do birth n the water. I love doing water births! Even though I usually end up being soaked!
In my first labor, I was in the hospital and I wanted nothing more than to be IN water. Of course, in the 80s noone had birthing tubs. They said I could take a shower. That didn't do it. I decided to go home for a bit, because things weren't moving and there was no reason for me to be in the hospital, and they told me not to get into the tub, because "your bag might break and you could get an infection." I ate at home, even though I was told not to (we're talking about the 80s here) I don't know why I didn't just say "the hell with it" and get into the tub. I wish I had. Brighid, can you recommend some good books for Hippy Landscaper and his womyn, so they can look at the material at their leisure. HL, when is your baby expected? Congratulations on the coming baby.
http://www.waterbirthinfo.com/ http://waterbirth.org/spa/index.php http://www.waterbirthinfo.com/article-p1.html http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/watrbrth.html http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/2840/whywater.htm There's a great video called Birth Day, (not to be confused with the Discovery Health Channel's series) that is so amazingly beautiful, every time I see it I cry. It's done by a Mexican midwife, the birth of her own 3rd baby, with herself and her husband catching their own baby in their huge blue-tiled whirlpool. Their 2 older boys jump in the tub just as their new sister emerges. Another good video is The Russian Waterbirth Project. There's a group of Russian families that go to the Black Sea when pregnant and stay in a birth camp until after the baby is born. They all give birth in the sea, it's amazing! Birth, Joy, and Raspberry Leaves is a 20 minute compilation of 5 waterbirths. Beautiful! Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper is a good book. Barbara Harper is the founder of Waterbirth International.
Thank you for your help. The baby is due sept.24th, and it is a boy. We are naming him Skye Trypp. I can't wait, I am so excited.
I was going to suggest the Birth Day video also as well as the links that Brighid posted. Check them out. You can also visit the MDC forums for some first person stories and discussion on waterbirth. Go to http://mothering.com/ and click on discuss. I'm sure you will find some helpful folks there. peace, ~b
