We begin our lives surrounded by warm liquid in the womb; this basic comfort stays with us through life.
     During labor, resting in a warm tub of water is very helpful for both the mom and baby. The mother has much greater ease and freedom to move spontaneously and to change position to assist the descent of the baby. Buoyancy promotes more efficient uterine contractions and better blood circulation, resulting in better oxygenation of the uterine muscles, less pain for the mother, and more oxygen for the baby.

     By lowering blood pressure and decreasing distraction, a woman is able to relax mentally and is less likely to secrete stress-related hormones. When fear is lessened, a woman can calmly focus her energies inward on the birthing process.

     As a woman relaxes deeply in water, her hormones kick in and she starts progressing faster and with more rhythm; labor becomes more efficient.

    Water relaxes the pelvic floor muscles.

    Water minimizes pain so effectively that for most women other pain control methods are no longer needed.

    Water stimulates the touch and temperature nerve fibers in the skin. It blocks impulses from the pain fibers. Immersion is often more effective and safer than an epidural. When a woman delivers her baby while remaining awake, aware and in control, it greatly enhances the birth experience for her and becomes a source of great personal strength and power that enriches her life forever.

    Water can be an effective way to stimulate rhythmic contractions. Water can reduce the need for drugs to artificially stimulate labor. Often, simply getting into the tub will result in dramatic and rapid progress to full dilation within an hour or two. Many mothers are less inhibited in the water. The warm water softens the vagina, vulva, and perineum, leading to fewer injuries to these tissues.

    Waterbirth encourages increased involvement of the father. Because the mother’s pain and stress is so greatly reduced, it is much easier for fathers to participate and take a more active role in the birthing process. A mother who has had a beautiful and empowering birth experience will have an especially positive association in her mind and emotions to that child; and a baby who has had an easy, non-traumatic, not painful, gentle birth will have an especially positive association to the parent. This exceptionally positive start to their relationship will likely enhance the parent-child interactions forever.

BABIES LOVE BEING BORN IN WATER!

    A baby will not try to breathe under water. It is when their face is brought out into air that they take their first breath. The birth in water is gentler than a “land birth.” There are no drugs for the baby to deal with and the tub water is much warmer than room air.

   We provide WATERBIRTH as an option for our patients at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital.

    There is no additional charge to our patients for a waterbirth at legacy Salmon Creek Hospital. The cost to rent the tub as indicated in the video no longer applies, as of 1/1/2012.

   More information is available at www.waterbirth.org