12-2-24 S.Tenuta
Water and birth are like magnets. They tend to call each other to work together.
A woman in labor, needs fluids to keep her brain thinking, to keep the neurons communicating, to keep hydrated, and to keep baby floating in the amniotic fluid, or to keep the fluid replenished. Water moves with the magnetism of the earth and the moon. The water of the tides rise and fall. The waters in our bodies do so as well. Each cell has fluid. The fluids in the cells respond to the pulls of the universe.
During labor, water can be soothing, relaxing and energizing. It gives energy to a mother and it helps with concentration. It helps mother if she is in a birth pool, to relax, float, be buoyant, and helps muscles to relax, release or let go. With relaxation, baby can better navigate the pathway towards this world, around the sacral curves of mothers’ body.
The water can keep the skin moist, thus keeping mother’s vaginal tissues intact during the process of birth. Patience also, helps mother. Trusting that baby and body know instinctually what to do during the process of birth helps mother’s mind to allow her body to flow with the process. Tension disrupts the process. Trust helps the body, fluids, muscles, water and birth.
Is a waterbirth common? Around the world, babies are born in water. It is more common for hospitals to have birth pools than in the past. Often there are protocols to be able to use them, but they are often there in hospitals. Where else are there water birth opportunities? Waterbirths have been documented to be in over 71 countries. Even in places where nudity is not the norm, water birth has had an inroad. Mothers want to have water births in their homes, or in waterways. Where there are lakes and oceans, babies have been born in these bodies of water.
For baby, water is surrounding it all during gestation and pregnancy. When born in water, it is still natural for baby to just be. It can hold its breath in water at birth. It is still getting oxygen from mother through the placenta if the cord remains intact. It is important to still be gentle with baby as it is brought out of the water. Be gentle as not to startle baby. Gentle movement continues the gentle water birth. It is not until the infant’s skin makes contact with air, especially around the nose and mouth, that it then begins to breathe. Water born babies are relaxed and do take longer to respond to the air and breathing than a baby which is born head first. For those taking APGAR scores, the first read may be low at minute one. After 5 min. and 10 minutes, the water born baby catches up to normal vaginal birth APGAR scores. When baby starts to breathe, most of the fluids present in the lungs’ alveoli are pushed out as the pulmonary circulation begins. This automatically increases baby’s blood circulation by 20 percent. Then the lymphatic system absorbs the rest of the fluids. This can take from 6-48 hours.
Water is said to dilute any type of contamination. Thus, there is little concern for mother to get an infection from birthing in the water. There is little chance of baby to get infection from the water either. Even if mom expels stool in the water, that can easily be fished out with a fish net. It is a normal part of the process. If there are mother’s bacteria in the water, that is good for baby as baby needs to be colonized with mother’s bacteria protection for developing its own immune system.
If mom labors in the water, the water should be deep enough for her to float her body. The comfort temperature is 97-100 degrees F or 35.1-37.8 degrees C. When she is buoyant, the woman feels light. This experience is a loss of 75 percent of her own body weight. This also changes mother’s perception of pain that she may have experienced outside of the tub. When contractions surge, the water gives mom more comfort and she does not notice them to be as strong. Being in the pool, is a type of nest for mother, and she is able to block out the rest of the world during this labor and birthing experience.
When birthing her baby in water, mother needs to keep her baby under the water. Keep the buttocks low in either sitting, or kneeling position. If baby happens to be born above the water, great care should be taken to keep baby out of the water after that.
Mother can still relax in the water after birth. And it seems to be ok to birth the placenta in the water as well. There is a gush of red that appears when the placenta releases from the uterus. That is normal. There is no set rule as to where to birth the placenta. It is a good practice to leave the cord connected to baby for as long as is possible. This could be for 12 min. or even an hour or more. If mother is having a lotus birth, the cord would remain connected to baby for 3-10 days until baby releases it naturally.
Breech babies can also be born safely in water. There is an increased safety for baby. In Belgium it has remained common practice to birth breech babies. Frank breech, in Belgium, is an indication to birth the baby in water.
Current statistics for US water births are 38%, while land births are 61%. (Perinatal Data Registry, 2012-2017)
If you are inclined to enjoy the soothing effects of water, or you are drawn to a water birth, research the information from sources that have practiced this tradition. Be cautious of articles that seem biased or seem derogatory. Search your heart and learn to connect with your own spirit, soul and consciousness. Recognize your own wisdom. Recognized the universal truths. Listen and be empowered to believe in yourself, your knowledge and your inner knowing. Water and birth go together.
Resources:
The Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing 34 (1): p. 16-26, January/March 2020
Gentle Birth Choices, Barbary Harper
Breech Without Borders
Comments