Water birth in a hospital? - Los Angeles Parents | Forums | What to Expect | Page 2 (2024)

FAQs

What are the steps of a water birth? ›

If you're wondering how you have a water birth, it's actually pretty much just like it sounds. A large, deep tub is filled with warm water, and you enter it when you're ready. Some women choose to get into the tub as soon as labor starts, while others wait until they're closer to delivering their baby.

The time that the baby spends underwater during a water birth is often a top concern for many care professionals. Since blood, other fluids and solids are a natural part of labor and delivery, babies could be exposed to bacteria if they open their eyes or mouth underwater. And that could possibly lead to infection.

If your baby is born in the water, they are brought gently to the surface by the mother or midwife. The baby will not breathe until they meet the air, and they continue to get oxygen through the umbilical cord. Initially, the baby's body is kept in the water, and against the mother's body, to stay warm.

If you choose to birth your baby in water:

During the birth of your baby's head, your baby should not be touched or stimulated in any way. Once born, your baby will be gently brought to the surface. Your baby's head must not be re-immersed in water. You will need assistance when leaving the water.

When can't I labour or birth in water? The NICE guidelines say that all 'healthy women and babies... between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation' should be offered the opportunity to labour in water .

It is not advisable for you to use the pool if: • If you have a medical condition or serious infection. monitoring). during your pregnancy we would recommend avoiding use of the birthing pool due to the increased likelihood of your baby being larger and possible complications during the birth.

Water can help the tissues of the perineum to stretch and relax. This is known to reduce the chance of having severe tears or the need for an episiotomy. This is a cut to the perineum that may be used to help deliver your baby in some circ*mstances.

If you are healthy, between 37 and 41 weeks in your pregnancy, your baby doesn't have any known fetal abnormalities that could put you or your child at risk (like placenta previa, for example), and you want to labor and/or give birth in water, you could be a good candidate for a midwife-attended water-birth.

You can wear whatever you feel most comfortable in. Some women prefer to be naked when they give birth in water as it gives you freedom to move around without clothing getting in the way and you can have immediate skin to skin contact with your baby when it is born. Others wear a cropped top, bikini top or t shirt.

Is a water birth better than an epidural? ›

The researchers found that laboring and/or giving birth in the water was associated with the following health results compared to no water immersion: Less use of Pitocin® to speed up labor. Less use of injectable opioids for pain management. Less use of epidurals.

Even if I get in the pool, can I still get pain relief? Yes, you can still use Entonox – gas and air – while you're in the birthing pool. However, should you wish to have Pethidine or Meptid, you would need to stay out of the water for two hours after the injection.

The number 1 hospitals in California are Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Stanford Health Care-Stanford Hospital, UCLA Medical Center, UCSF Health-UCSF Medical Center and UC San Diego Health-La Jolla and Hillcrest Hospitals.

vagin*l deliveries averaged $25,525 and C-section deliveries averaged $25,518.63.

Water can help you relax during labour and women often say that it helps them to move about more easily and cope better with their contractions. Your baby can be born in water with the support of your midwife, or you can use the pool for your labour only and decide to get out for your baby's birth if you prefer.

Benefits of laboring in water

A positive birth experience: Women who have labored or given birth in water say they had less pain and a greater sense of control. Less pain medication: Some studies show that women who labor in water need less pain medication and may have a shorter first stage of labor.

Who can have a water birth? Healthy women with low risk pregnancies in labour over 37 weeks (and carrying only one baby in a head-down presentation), are offered the choice of using a birthing pool for labour and birth if they wish to do so.

Around 7 in every 10 people give birth within 24 hours of their waters breaking, and almost all (9 in 10 people) within 48 hours. If your waters break after 37 weeks pregnant and labour doesn't start within 24 hours, your health team may discuss inducing labour due to the risk of infection.