Benefits of a Water Birth

Benefits of a Water Birth
PHYSICAL BENEFITS:
Reduced perineal damage
All recent studies show a significant reduction in damage to the perineum for
those women who give birth or labour in water.4,5
Reduction in the use of epidurals, narcotics and their side effects
A number of recent retrospective audits 4,5,7 conclude that the use of narcotics
and epidurals is significantly lower when you labour in a birthing pool. In the
Oxford study(Burns 2001)4 there were twice as many epidurals in those who did
not use water. Correspondingly, significantly more pool users had a spontaneous
vaginal birth.
There may be a number of interrelated reasons for this reduction in the uptake
of epidurals and narcotics: -
Sensations of heat and pain are thought to travel along the same nerves,
so the conduction of the heat sensation limits the pain sensation you feel.2
The sense of security, warmth and being held that immersion in warm
water offers help you to cope with your pain and not become
overwhelmed.
An increase in the supply of oxygenated blood to your uterine
muscles helps to flush out the toxins built up by muscle action,
which in turn helps to reduce the level of muscle pain you feel.
Otigbah (2000)8 also points out the very practical effect of hospital protocols.
Many hospitals require a midwife to be present at all times when you are in the
pool. This allows midwives the opportunity to offer you one to one uninterrupted
care, support and encouragement. This may make all the difference to your
perception of whether or not you can cope.
Buoyancy
This allows you to choose the least painful and most effective positioning in
labour for you.
Buoyancy also means that there is less stress on the postural muscles. Less
muscular tension may result in a decrease in catecholamines (stress hormones)
and an increase in oxytocin production.2

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Maximisation of oxygenated blood available to your uterine muscles
Less oxygenated blood is needed by the muscles to maintain posture against
gravity or to maintain body temperature in a warm pool, leaving more
oxygenated blood available for uterine muscles.3
Ockenden (2001)6 suggests that the change in blood volume distribution which
causes an increase in central blood flow may have the effect of increasing
uterine blood flow.
Buoyancy helps take the weight of the uterus so that if you choose to be in a
more prone position the blood vessels are less constricted, allowing blood to
flow more freely into the uterus. 3
Reduction in blood pressure
It has been noted that elevated blood pressure could be dramatically reduced
by getting in warm water. This could have implications as a treatment option for
you if you have a pregnancy induced high blood pressure.
EMOTIONAL BENEFITS:
Mobility
The buoyancy that water offers helps you feel in control of your labour. You can
easily manoeuvre yourself into the most comfortable and effective position for
you.
Security
The supportive nature of water encourages feelings of security and privacy -
essential in supporting the natural process of birth.1 The physical qualities of a
birthing pool also offer you an additional physical and psychological barrier to
any unwanted interference.
Reduction in sensory stimulation
The constant warmth and ability to float helps to get you in a space of inward
focus and concentration.
Gentle transition from your womb to your arms
Anecdotally, babies that are born underwater take longer to respond than
those born on dry land, perhaps because the transition is gentler and they take
time to ‘realise’ they have been born. The warm supportive environment may
also assist in early breastfeeding.

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Relaxation
The warmth and support of water encourages you to relax. This in turn helps
promote the normal physiological progression of labour, encouraging endorphin
and oxytocin production, and helping to ensure you do not feel overwhelmed.
Benefits associated with relaxation in water
It is not clear exactly why immersion in warm water produces a feeling of
relaxation. What is clear is that it does.
The relaxation that is encouraged by warm water produces a number of
physiological benefits to the labouring woman.
Reduction in catecholamines (stress hormones)
If you are more relaxed you are unlikely to produce extra catecholamines,
which can stall early labour, and clear the body of endorphins while the surge
lasts. Adrenaline introduced at the wrong time may also cause your uterine
contractions to become uncoordinated at the same time as natural pain relief
has been diminished.6 This all feeds into a circle of fear. Although fear and stress
are not the cause of a painful labour they do amplify it.
Encouraging endorphin and oxytocin production
The relaxation that immersion in warm water produces helps you increase your
production of endorphins (nature’s own pain killers) as part of your natural
physiological response to pain in labour. This in turn helps you relax more and
maintain a sense of well being.
Your body’s natural production of oxytocin (to stimulate contractions) is also
enhanced.
References
1 Odent M
Birth Reborn
Ouvinir Press
1994
2 Ockenden J Water Labour and Birth
The practicing Midwife
2001 4(9)
3 Lichy R
The waterbirth Handbook
Gateway Books
1993
4 Burns E
Waterbirth
Midirs Midwifery Digest
Sept2001Vol 11
5 Geissbuhller V Waterbirths a comparative
Fetal Diagnosis and
2000 15:5
Study
Therapy
6 Ockenden J The Hormonal Dance of Labour
The Practicing Midwife
2001 4(6)
7 Garland D
Waterbirth Supporting practice
Midirs Midwifery Digest
Sept2000vol 10
Jones K
with clinical audit
Dec 2002 vol12
8 Otigbah C M A retrospective comparison of European Journal of
waterbirths and conventional
Obstetrics and Gynecology
2000 91(1)
vaginal deliveries
and Reproductive Biology
9 Eckert K
Immersion in water in the first stage of Birth
June 2001 28:2
Turnbull
labour: A randomised Controlled Trial
10 Richmond
Theories surrounding Waterbirth
The Practicing Midwife
2003 6(2)

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