Water Birth

annakimballd · September 2014

Hello Ladies!
I have been entertaining the idea of getting a midwife and having a water birth at a birthing center. I talked to my doctor about water birth today and she pretty much shut the whole idea down. She said babies weren't meant to be born in water that we are land creatures... She told me that I can labor in the jetted tub but that when it came to the birth I would need to get out of the tub. I'm a first time mom, so all of this is new to me. But water births look 100x better than dry births. Thoughts?

Stargirlb · September 2014

A doctor will not tell u a waterbirth is great. You have to switch to midwives that deliver at the birthing center if that's what you want. Doctors don't do waterbirths.

Both mine were home waterbirths and I loved the experience. (One unassisted and one with midwives.) do a lot of research, watch a lot of youtube waterbirth vids, and talk to some midwives at the center(s) in your area.

Stargirlb · September 2014

Also post on the "natural birth" board on the bump. I'm sure there are more people there with some waterbirth experience.

I don't really have much to say except that it was great for me and if it resonates with you, then you should totally look into it.

Stargirlb · September 2014

Here is an informative article to learn more:
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/waterbirth-birth-in-water#.VCOOuIpHbCQ

brickcitylove · September 2014

I have been thinking about this too. Trying to find a place is more work than I expected.

NatureLovers · September 2014

brickcitylove said:
I have been thinking about this too. Trying to find a place is more work than I expected.

You might want to check and see if your insurance covers it. Many insurances do not cover out of hospital birth, so you could wind up paying out of pocket. I'd also do some research on the safety of birthing in a birth center (it's basically a home birth in someone else's home), and see if you're comfortable with the statistics. In the U.S, out of hospital births carry a death rate 4 to 5 times higher than comparable births in the hospital. I think laboring in the tub at the hospital is a good compromise, as you still get some of the same experience, along with the life saving technology should it become necessary.

literarymuse · September 2014

emmyg65 said:

@NatureLovers, please start doing some research to back up your comments. In the United States, accredited birth centers have comparable outcomes to hospitals for low-risk women and because their costs are lower, they save the medical system millions of dollars a year. They are not comparable to home births. More here.

Anyway, OP, if you want a water birth, you'll have to do a little searching to find a provider who can accommodate you. You can find more information here, and yes, @Stargirlb is correct that the Natural Birth board here on The Bump is also a great resource.

I second this. Also, homebirths, where the mom, dad, and midwives are all well-prepared, are just as safe as hospital births. In fact, they're associated with faster recovery time because you don't have medical professionals trying to force unnecessary interventions and medications on you.

Stargirlb · September 2014

NatureLovers is uneducated on this topic. (Or perhaps gets all her info from anti-homebirth troll Amy Tuteur.) If you have a low risk pregnancy (approx 85 percent of women,) it is not more dangerous to give birth in a birth center or at home.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmwh.12003/full

"Results: Of 15,574 women who planned and were eligible for birth center birth at the onset of labor, 84% gave birth at the birth center. Four percent were transferred to a hospital prior to birth center admission, and 12% were transferred in labor after admission. Regardless of where they gave birth, 93% of women had a spontaneous vaginal birth, 1% an assisted vaginal birth, and 6% a cesarean birth. Of women giving birth in the birth center, 2.4% required transfer postpartum, whereas 2.6% of newborns were transferred after birth. Most transfers were nonemergent, with 1.9% of mothers or newborns requiring emergent transfer during labor or after birth. There were no maternal deaths. The intrapartum fetal mortality rate for women admitted to the birth center in labor was 0.47/1000. The neonatal mortality rate was 0.40/1000 excluding anomalies."

"These findings are consistent with those from Cochrane reviews of place of birth and midwifery-led care, British studies of place of birth, and US studies comparing midwifery and obstetric care, which suggest that midwifery-led birth center care is a safe and effective option for medically low-risk women."

Talk to the midwives-- situations that would prevent you from having a water birth, and in what situations you would be transferred to a hospital. Birth itself is not a medical emergency, and you have all the reason is the world to do it how/where you are most comfortable. Being physically and mentally comfortable is very important to your body's progression. Once you have done your research and spoken with your potential care providers, make a decision that works for you

LaBellaVida · September 2014

NatureLovers said:

brickcitylove said:
I have been thinking about this too. Trying to find a place is more work than I expected.
You might want to check and see if your insurance covers it. Many insurances do not cover out of hospital birth, so you could wind up paying out of pocket. I'd also do some research on the safety of birthing in a birth center (it's basically a home birth in someone else's home), and see if you're comfortable with the statistics. In the U.S, out of hospital births carry a death rate 4 to 5 times higher than comparable births in the hospital. I think laboring in the tub at the hospital is a good compromise, as you still get some of the same experience, along with the life saving technology should it become necessary.

uh, I'm having my baby in a birth center. It's connected to the hospital, (in a sense.) They can even preform c sections in their own OR. They've also got level 3 NICU right on site! You've got your choice to do a water birth or land birth.
Water births are perfectly safe for a pregnant woman who is not high risk, or have complications during labor and delivery.

OP- you'd have to switch to a midwife to get a water birth. MOST insurance will cover it, as long as you've got a CNM. They will not cover if you've just got a midwife. (From my understanding.)

Stargirlb · September 2014

LaBellaVida said:

NatureLovers said:

brickcitylove said:
I have been thinking about this too. Trying to find a place is more work than I expected.
You might want to check and see if your insurance covers it. Many insurances do not cover out of hospital birth, so you could wind up paying out of pocket. I'd also do some research on the safety of birthing in a birth center (it's basically a home birth in someone else's home), and see if you're comfortable with the statistics. In the U.S, out of hospital births carry a death rate 4 to 5 times higher than comparable births in the hospital. I think laboring in the tub at the hospital is a good compromise, as you still get some of the same experience, along with the life saving technology should it become necessary.
uh, I'm having my baby in a birth center. It's connected to the hospital, (in a sense.) They can even preform c sections in their own OR. They've also got level 3 NICU right on site! You've got your choice to do a water birth or land birth.
Water births are perfectly safe for a pregnant woman who is not high risk, or have complications during labor and delivery.

OP- you'd have to switch to a midwife to get a water birth. MOST insurance will cover it, as long as you've got a CNM. They will not cover if you've just got a midwife. (From my understanding.)

---

Oh so that is JUST like having a homebirth in someone else's home... If their home was a hospital with an OR and NICU ^_^ lol

emilyp2013 · September 2014

My doctors do water births...my hospital also provides the tub and trained nursing support. I have no clue if I want one personally, but I guess it helps if you find a doctor out of a hospital that supports water births if you want a doctor-attended water birth. I may just be really fortunate, though. I did have an extreme variety of hospitals in my area that compete head and neck for maternity patients and hospital rankings so they're always after things others might not offer. Like, aromatherapy, massage therapy, hypno-birthing classes, squatting bars, and jet tubs are pretty standard here (except at the one ghetto hospital that any woman who did a modicum of research wouldn't want to birth at).

BookitBoo · September 2014

I love the terms 'land birth' VS 'water birth'

Makes me feel like an amphibious sailor!

Stargirlb · September 2014

I am tempted to do a land birth this time to compare to my two water birth experiences. (Though birth water birth experiences were different in their own way, so I don't think any two experiences will ever be exactly alike.)

I wanna do a standing birth like that badass German woman from the YouTube video

LOZENGER25 · September 2014

I'm planning on having a home water birth. I'm in the UK so don't need to worry about insurance.
You can give birth in the pool if you want or you can give birth on dry land. Totally your choise.

Good luck with everything

MusicFanatic · September 2014

"We are land creatures, not meant to be in water....... " says the quack doctor. I'm pretty sure all of our babies are currently swimming in a nice pool of water, no?

I've actually attended the water birth birth of my best friend. It was amazing and INCREDIBLE. Not something I can do (as I'm high risk) but hers was completely awesome to watch.

cassied7 · September 2014

Stargirlb said:

I am tempted to do a land birth this time to compare to my two water birth experiences. (Though birth water birth experiences were different in their own way, so I don't think any two experiences will ever be exactly alike.) I wanna do a standing birth like that badass German woman from the YouTube video

I would love if you had a birth out of the tub so you could tell us how different it was for you. For some reason I'm really interested since you've only had tub births...and maybe I'm a weirdo lol. I also give birth in a birth center with an entire wing dedicated for water births, connected to a hospital. DH and I had planned for a water birth last time, but I was diagnosed with HELLP at 39 weeks, so that ruined everything. I couldn't even stick my toe in the water if I wanted to. So this time I will just go with the flow so there is no disappointment. But I would like to live vicariously through you with your births lol.

NatureLovers · September 2014

I am not uneducated on this topic. I am referring to the most recent statistics from the MANA study. However, I did mis-quote home birth vs birth center births, my apologies. A birth center attached to a hospital is obviously going to be a lot safer than a home birth. There is a lot of conflicting information out there, and it's not hard to find studies that will support your wishes either way. I recommend the OP do her own research taking into account her particular facility and go from there.

Stargirlb · September 2014

There is nothing "obvious" about it, naturelovers. In Canada, Based on the latest and largest study to date, the 'safest' option for low risk women is at home with a midwife, followed by hospital with a midwife, followed by hospital with a physician. Given the fact that in Canada midwives do have hospital privileges and the birth locations are equally safe (maternal welfare being best at home,) speaks volumes. Respect and accommodate women's access to expanded birth choices within the system and everyone is better off-- including taxpayers.

I'm glad the most recent cochrane review took note of this and even the USA will likely be moving in the direction of an expansion of the certified-nurse-midwifery model of care. (Canada is expanding this as well due to the great results BC and Ontario have experienced.)

Not interested? No problem! But advocating for greater access/options for women helps all women-- even those who will choose something different.

aerotigergirl · September 2014

I don't want to jump into the middle of this argument, but keep in mind that those statistics may be skewed slightly. In general, women who are higher risk are going to be delivering in a hospital with a physician. Therefore, they're more likely to suffer negative outcomes. Women who have the ability to deliver at home with a midwife are generally lower risk, and therefore it seems they're less likely to suffer negative outcomes.

The study that you're citing doesn't necessarily indicate that delivering in the hospital with a physician is a dangerous choice, as much as it reflects the outcomes of those women who are inherently more likely to suffer a negative outcome no matter where they deliver.

Just wanted to point that out.

Stargirlb · September 2014

aerotigergirl said:
I don't want to jump into the middle of this argument, but keep in mind that those statistics may be skewed slightly. In general, women who are higher risk are going to be delivering in a hospital with a physician. Therefore, they're more likely to suffer negative outcomes. Women who have the ability to deliver at home with a midwife are generally lower risk, and therefore it seems they're less likely to suffer negative outcomes.

The study that you're citing doesn't necessarily indicate that delivering in the hospital with a physician is a dangerous choice, as much as it reflects the outcomes of those women who are inherently more likely to suffer a negative outcome no matter where they deliver.

Just wanted to point that out.

No, they control for that in the studies. The Canada one was especially vigorous with this. I can post it again if you are really interested. They compared low risk women who would be eligible for midwife-led-birth, regardless of their choice.

aerotigergirl · September 2014

Stargirlb said:

I don't want to jump into the middle of this argument, but keep in mind that those statistics may be skewed slightly. In general, women who are higher risk are going to be delivering in a hospital with a physician. Therefore, they're more likely to suffer negative outcomes. Women who have the ability to deliver at home with a midwife are generally lower risk, and therefore it seems they're less likely to suffer negative outcomes.

The study that you're citing doesn't necessarily indicate that delivering in the hospital with a physician is a dangerous choice, as much as it reflects the outcomes of those women who are inherently more likely to suffer a negative outcome no matter where they deliver.

Just wanted to point that out.
No, they control for that in the studies. The Canada one was especially vigorous with this. I can post it again if you are really interested. They compared low risk women who would be eligible for midwife-led-birth, regardless of their choice.

OK, please disregard my comment in that case. I'm not familiar with the particular research you cited. This just seems like a detail that gets overlooked in many discussions.

Stargirlb · September 2014

https://m.cmaj.ca/content/181/6-7/377.full

"We matched physician-attended births that met the eligibility criteria for home birth individually to each home birth on a 2:1 ratio. Parameters were year of birth, parity (primiparous v. multiparous), single parent (yes v. no), maternal age (< 15, 15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34 or > 35 years) and the hospital where the midwife conducting the index home birth had hospital privileges. To control as much as possible for variables such as urban versus rural setting, size of hospital and predominance of ethnic groups, we restricted physician-attended births to those in hospitals where midwives held privileges. For each home birth, we randomly selected a comparison case from the eligible matches.

For all women included in the study, we collected data on their age, height, weight before pregnancy, body mass index, income quintile, drug and alcohol use (v. no use) during pregnancy, smoking status, status of parenthood (single v. other), parity, gestational age at first prenatal visit, number of antenatal visits and history of ultrasonography before 20 weeks’ gestation. For income quintiles, we used average household incomes, adjusted for size of household, within a given area of census enumeration derived from postal codes.
"

Stargirlb · September 2014

aerotigergirl said:

Stargirlb said:

aerotigergirl said:
I don't want to jump into the middle of this argument, but keep in mind that those statistics may be skewed slightly. In general, women who are higher risk are going to be delivering in a hospital with a physician. Therefore, they're more likely to suffer negative outcomes. Women who have the ability to deliver at home with a midwife are generally lower risk, and therefore it seems they're less likely to suffer negative outcomes.

The study that you're citing doesn't necessarily indicate that delivering in the hospital with a physician is a dangerous choice, as much as it reflects the outcomes of those women who are inherently more likely to suffer a negative outcome no matter where they deliver.

Just wanted to point that out.
No, they control for that in the studies. The Canada one was especially vigorous with this. I can post it again if you are really interested. They compared low risk women who would be eligible for midwife-led-birth, regardless of their choice.

OK, please disregard my comment in that case. I'm not familiar with the particular research you cited. This just seems like a detail that gets overlooked in many discussions.
---

Yes it does get overlooked in discussions, so fair point. This particular study was extremely well done, however. It shows without a doubt that the midwifery model of care (and homebirth) in BC has been a great success, and should be expanded. It also means that more resources are freed up for high risk women who could use the extra attention and devotion.

Trek3 · September 2014

Just personal opinion, but I would find having a baby and sitting in a pool that also contained my blood, urine, and feces really gross (and I had plenty of all 3 spray out during deliveries).

Other than that, my temperature was out of control (hot to shivering cold) even when dry, and I don't think being wet during and after delivery would help that at all.

Cbeanz · September 2014

@trek3 sounds like a land-birth is for you!

Stargirlb · September 2014

I laboured on the toilet for most of it and only got in the tub at the end. I was completely empty of pee and poo at that point :P

Nothing gross about blood. Or really pee for that matter either. Poo is all that's kinda gross but they have a little net thing to fish out a stray log if you are so unlucky as to produce one

Stargirlb · September 2014

We set up the pool in advance in the living room and did a few hot bath "test runs" watching movies in it. Very nice and romantic!

NatureLovers · September 2014

sassquatch said:

Trek3 said:
Just personal opinion, but I would find having a baby and sitting in a pool that also contained my blood, urine, and feces really gross (and I had plenty of all 3 spray out during deliveries).
Other than that, my temperature was out of control (hot to shivering cold) even when dry, and I don't think being wet during and after delivery would help that at all.

You painted a beautiful picture for me, @Trek3‌! Hahahaha!

::shudder::

Beauxbaton · September 2014

Like a PP said, some doctors will do water births. I'm pretty sure mine does. I just don't want one. Also sometimes you can have both a doctor and a midwife oversee your pregnancy. That way if you are mid home/water/natural/whatever labor and something turns for the slightly worse and making so you have to have some mild interventions you get a doctor that knows you, knows what you want, and is on the same page as you. You've just got to find a doctor/midwife that has ideals that align with yours.

Also, seriously @Stargirlb‌ could you please go back to being slightly crazy hardcore with your views. Its SO weird to love tit your posts. You're getting soft man

Stargirlb · September 2014

CuppyCakes721 said:

Like a PP said, some doctors will do water births. I'm pretty sure mine does. I just don't want one. Also sometimes you can have both a doctor and a midwife oversee your pregnancy. That way if you are mid home/water/natural/whatever labor and something turns for the slightly worse and making so you have to have some mild interventions you get a doctor that knows you, knows what you want, and is on the same page as you. You've just got to find a doctor/midwife that has ideals that align with yours. Also, seriously @Stargirlb‌ could you please go back to being slightly crazy hardcore with your views. Its SO weird to love tit your posts. You're getting soft man

My views are still the same. It's YOU that's accepting me

awwwwww warm and fuzzy feels...

Bigboneded · September 2014

I am stuck with a land birth. In a hospital, in the OR. Just cause twins can be unpredictable. I can plan for vag delivery, but it will still be in OR, just in case.
but I keep telling hubby I will be in the tub, so he should plan on keeping the fish net close ;-)

Trek3 · September 2014

Stargirlb said:

I laboured on the toilet for most of it and only got in the tub at the end. I was completely empty of pee and poo at that point :P Nothing gross about blood. Or really pee for that matter either. Poo is all that's kinda gross but they have a little net thing to fish out a stray log if you are so unlucky as to produce one

@Stargirlb I couldn't get any pee out during labour. Tried to go to the bathroom but nothing came out. As soon as I started pushing (this was DD#2, and I was pushing HARD), my full bladder emptied, blood hit the walls, and poo came out too. Poor doctor, now I know why they wear face shields. It ALL would have gone in the water.

I don't normally think blood and pee are gross, but when I am sitting in them (probably with an open wound and 10cm open path directly to my uterus), no thanks.

@sassquatch @cbeanz @NatureLovers Yes definitely another land birth, and enjoy the honest beauty of the powerful natural image I can paint for you

)

LaBellaVida · September 2014

CrazyMonkeyBear said:

Stargirlb said:

LaBellaVida said:

NatureLovers said:

brickcitylove said:
I have been thinking about this too. Trying to find a place is more work than I expected.
You might want to check and see if your insurance covers it. Many insurances do not cover out of hospital birth, so you could wind up paying out of pocket. I'd also do some research on the safety of birthing in a birth center (it's basically a home birth in someone else's home), and see if you're comfortable with the statistics. In the U.S, out of hospital births carry a death rate 4 to 5 times higher than comparable births in the hospital. I think laboring in the tub at the hospital is a good compromise, as you still get some of the same experience, along with the life saving technology should it become necessary.
uh, I'm having my baby in a birth center. It's connected to the hospital, (in a sense.) They can even preform c sections in their own OR. They've also got level 3 NICU right on site! You've got your choice to do a water birth or land birth.
Water births are perfectly safe for a pregnant woman who is not high risk, or have complications during labor and delivery.

OP- you'd have to switch to a midwife to get a water birth. MOST insurance will cover it, as long as you've got a CNM. They will not cover if you've just got a midwife. (From my understanding.)

---

Oh so that is JUST like having a homebirth in someone else's home... If their home was a hospital with an OR and NICU ^_^ lol

I haven't finished reading this thread yet, but this is how my hospital is set up as well. We're also kept, pending no complications or a surge in people delivering, in the same room for labor, delivery, and recovery. I do plan to labor in the tub prior to asking for an epidural (if I decide to go for the pain meds at all). Who am I kidding? They give us a Jacuzzi, not a tub...

we must be delivering at the same place. I will stay in 1 room until I'm discharged. They also have jetted jacuzzi tubs in each room, and the water pool they'll bring into the room to set up.

Also, once I've delivered they'll come in and change my mattress out, with an orthopedic mattress.

Trek3 · September 2014

I will also birth in a hospital again, this time with a midwife (first two births were with an OB). I was never pressured into epidural or drugs and had good experiences.

I had a 3rd degree tear with #2, and even without anything life-threatening I would have had to be transferred to hospital just to get stitched up. I would just rather be in the hospital for whatever comes up, and go home as soon as possible when it is all over.

Beauxbaton · September 2014

Stargirlb said:

CuppyCakes721 said:

Like a PP said, some doctors will do water births. I'm pretty sure mine does. I just don't want one. Also sometimes you can have both a doctor and a midwife oversee your pregnancy. That way if you are mid home/water/natural/whatever labor and something turns for the slightly worse and making so you have to have some mild interventions you get a doctor that knows you, knows what you want, and is on the same page as you. You've just got to find a doctor/midwife that has ideals that align with yours.

Also, seriously @Stargirlb‌ could you please go back to being slightly crazy hardcore with your views. Its SO weird to love tit your posts. You're getting soft man

My views are still the same. It's YOU that's accepting me

awwwwww warm and fuzzy feels...
-----------------
Pssssssssh yea right. I just get more mean as the pregnancy goes on.

LaBellaVida · September 2014

CrazyMonkeyBear said:

LaBellaVida said:

CrazyMonkeyBear said:

Stargirlb said:

LaBellaVida said:

NatureLovers said:

brickcitylove said:
I have been thinking about this too. Trying to find a place is more work than I expected.
You might want to check and see if your insurance covers it. Many insurances do not cover out of hospital birth, so you could wind up paying out of pocket. I'd also do some research on the safety of birthing in a birth center (it's basically a home birth in someone else's home), and see if you're comfortable with the statistics. In the U.S, out of hospital births carry a death rate 4 to 5 times higher than comparable births in the hospital. I think laboring in the tub at the hospital is a good compromise, as you still get some of the same experience, along with the life saving technology should it become necessary.
uh, I'm having my baby in a birth center. It's connected to the hospital, (in a sense.) They can even preform c sections in their own OR. They've also got level 3 NICU right on site! You've got your choice to do a water birth or land birth.
Water births are perfectly safe for a pregnant woman who is not high risk, or have complications during labor and delivery.

OP- you'd have to switch to a midwife to get a water birth. MOST insurance will cover it, as long as you've got a CNM. They will not cover if you've just got a midwife. (From my understanding.)

---

Oh so that is JUST like having a homebirth in someone else's home... If their home was a hospital with an OR and NICU ^_^ lol

I haven't finished reading this thread yet, but this is how my hospital is set up as well. We're also kept, pending no complications or a surge in people delivering, in the same room for labor, delivery, and recovery. I do plan to labor in the tub prior to asking for an epidural (if I decide to go for the pain meds at all). Who am I kidding? They give us a Jacuzzi, not a tub...
we must be delivering at the same place. I will stay in 1 room until I'm discharged. They also have jetted jacuzzi tubs in each room, and the water pool they'll bring into the room to set up.

Also, once I've delivered they'll come in and change my mattress out, with an orthopedic mattress.

Do you also get a birthing ball and stool if you wish? I don't know about the mattress, but that sounds awesome!

Maybe we are at the same place, do you live near me...

;;)

Yes, I get those things too if I wish.

Idk, probably not. I'm in Vancouver WA.

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