Women tell us that they enjoy their labors and birthings and appreciate the complete freedom of movement and buoyancy the water provides.  The immersion in water provides an environment that facilitates relaxation and highlights the opportunity for deep focus.

Some benefits of water labor and waterbirth

• Water immersion increases comfort because mothers are able to assume any position easily during labor and birth
• Water immersion can speed up labor
• Water immersion can reduce blood pressure
• Water immersion allows mother to feel more in control of her labor and birth
• Water immersion increases overall comfort and decreases pain
• Water immersion promotes relaxation
• Water immersion conserves mother’s energy
• Water immersion reduces the need for medical intervention and drugs
• Water immersion provides a private protected space for mother and baby
• Water immersion reduces trauma to the perineum and eliminates episiotomies
• Water immersion reduces cesarean section rates
• Water immersion is rated very highly by mothers who have birthed this way
• Water immersion is rated very highly by experienced providers
• Water immersion encourages a gentler welcoming for baby and an easier calmer birth for mother

Question About Safety…

The main question that parents ask about waterbirth is around safety of the baby.  What prevents the baby from trying to breathe underwater?

From reading Barbara Harper’s notes on Waterbirth Basics http://www.waterbirth.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=38564#
What_prevents_baby_from_breathing_under
We understand that here are four main factors preventing the baby from inhaling water at the time of birth:

1. There is a slowing down or cessation of fetal breathing movements due to high levels of Prostaglandin E2 levels from the placenta.  When the baby is born and the Prostaglandin E2 level is still high, the breathing muscles simply don’t work, thus inhibiting a breath response.
2. Babies are born naturally experiencing a mild lack of oxygen or “hypoxia.”  This causes apnea and swallowing, not breathing or gasping.
3. Water is a hypotonic solution and lung fluids present in the fetus are hypertonic. So, even if water were to travel in past the larynx, they could not pass into the lungs based on the fact that hypertonic solutions are denser and prevent hypotonic solutions from merging or coming into their presence.
4. The last important inhibitory factor is the Dive Reflex and revolves around the larynx. The larynx is covered all over with chemoreceptors or taste buds. The larynx has five times as many as taste buds as the whole surface of the tongue. So, when a solution hits the back of the throat, passing the larynx, the taste buds interprets what substance it is and the glottis automatically closes and the solution is then swallowed, not inhaled.

It is estimated that there have been well over 150,000 waterbirths worldwide between 1985 and 1999. There are no valid reports of infant deaths due to water aspiration or inhalation.

Waterbirth International is one of the main sources we have for current vital information and research on Waterbirth:

http://www.waterbirth.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=38425&orgId=wi

Sources of Tubs and Pools for Waterbirth

Yourwaterbirth.com
Waterbirth.org
Aquadoula.com

Local Waterbirth Tub Sources compiled by Rhione Zeixchel LDM  541-846-6216

for the
Rogue Valley Southern Oregon, Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass Area:

1. Spa in a Box  

Cushy, strong tub w/heater and liner, room for two easily
Aimee Disharoon  846-0747   approx $150-200, depending if they set it up and take it down and how far they travel

Note:  for most of these tubs you will need faucet adapter for hose connection

1. Aquadoula                                            

Large tub with heater, new liner, needs set-up, roomy            
Ashland, loaned from midwives
Sarah Carson  552-9558  price approx $75
Laura Roe   482-6067  ask about price

1. Sevylor “Electra”

Round inflatable tub, cushy bottom and sides
No Heater
Comes with new plastic liner
Not suitable for very tall women
Rhione rents for $50, including liner, pump.  846-6216
You set up and take down
Check it out at www.yourwaterbirth.com

1. La Bassine

Oval inflatable tub, larger than Electra, made for waterbirth
Strong, cushy bottom and sides
No Heater
Comes with new plastic liner
Room for two
Rhione rents for $72, including liner, pump.  846-6216
You set up and take down. Check it out at www.yourwaterbirth.com

1. 150 gallon rubbermade stock tank, oval, deep

Used only for waterbirths
No Heater.  (Some people use waterbed heater in bottom.)
Works well with a beanbag set up in bottom, covered with light-colored sheet, then draped in clean clear plastic
You pick up, set up, take down, return
Free

Other Ideas:  Buy your own tub from www.yourwaterbirth.com or from www.waterbirthinternational.org or buy a large “kiddy pool” from your local discount store (check that it is deep enough, approx 25 inches, and has baffled sides and bottom for comfort)