Water Births in MA?

mas1115

Hello everyone,

I live in Central MA and am interested in having a water birth. ?This is my first pregnancy and I would like to have it in a hospital/birthing center. ?Does anyone know of which, if any, hospitals offer waterbirths, or any links that I can get more information on locating one. ?The only one I have found is in Beverly, MA at the North Shore Birthing Center.

?

Thanks

barharborbride

I'm pretty sure Emerson Hopsital in concord does water births.... I am delivering there and they def. had a tub for such things....

mas1115

thanks, I will check it out!

saturdaynightdoubletree

Cambridge has a birthing unit where they do water births.

MrsLifeofReilly

There are several hospitals in MA that have tubs for laboring, but not all will do waterbirth.

 The ones that do waterbirth (that I know of ) are:

 The North Shore Birth Center in Beverly

Mount Auburn Midiwives at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge

Cambridge Birth Center in Cambridge

There are also several birth centers in southern New Hampshire that I have heard of MA moms traveling to for giving birth.  That could be something to look into as well.

hmatiyow

I am giving birth at Mt. Auburn (with an OB, not the midwives group) and am hoping for the option of a waterbirth. Just to clarify, there is only one way to do an actual waterbirth at MtA (as of now, at least) - you have to use the aquadoula (they only have one, so you just have to hope that it's available on the day you go to the hospital), AND there are only a few rooms that tub fits into, so assuming those two elements line up, then yes, you can actually have a waterbirth there. Otherwise you can labor in the in-room tubs but will have to get out before actually giving birth.

Also, if you want the option of a waterbirth at MtA, you need to tell them ahead of time so you can do additional necessary bloodwork (something about a repeat of Hep B, HIV and maybe some other tests) - I'm at 33 weeks so haven't had mine done yet but I know it's something you have to do in advance around 36 weeks - you can't just show up the day of your birthing and ask for the option of a waterbirth then. I think the Cambridge Birthing Center also allows waterbirths, but I'm not sure.

Good luck!

CutieKenge

From what I knew, no MA hospitals were allowed to let anyone actually deliver in a tub. (Laboring is fine,) so this would definitely be something to look into. (Good to know!) But like the previous poster said, you just have to hope it will be available when you go into labor. I also have heard rumors of Tubs being pulled from certain MA hospitals per some brand new regulation?? I have to look into this, myself.

Cambridge Birthing Center (CBC) does allow waterbirths, which is the only place that I knew of in MA, outside of having a homebirth. Just make sure to do a little research before hand, because I have heard they have a pretty high transfer rate over to Cambridge Hospital.

Other than that, many hospitals have the option to labor in a birthing tub. I know you can at Mt.Auburn (MAH) & Newton Wellesley (NWH). If you are looking to go the natural route, however, aside from CBC, I have heard the best reviews for NWH & MAH.

 

pinksweetpea2

Based on my research no hospitals will let you give birth in the water- only labor.  

I gave birth at home in an aquadoula (in the middle of my living room).  It was awesome.