Can you have a water birth with your first?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which sets guidelines for pregnancy and childbirth care in the U.S., says a water birth during the first stage of labor may have some benefits but delivering your baby underwater should be considered an experimental procedure with risks.
What are two pros to having a water birth?
Water birth benefits
- Positive birthing experience.
- More relaxed and comfortable labour.
- Eases pain of contractions and labour.
- Aids mobilisation for the birth.
- Immediate skin-to-skin contact with baby.
- Greater sense of privacy.
- Babies born in water can be calmer.
What are the advantages of water birth?
Benefits of water birth
- A more relaxing birth experience.
- A shorter labor.
- Less need for pain medication.
- Feeling more present in the birth experience.
- Water births are only recommended for low-risk pregnancies.
- There is limited research on the benefits and risks of water births.
- Bacteria could lurk in birthing tub water.
What should I wear for a water birth?
You can wear what feels comfortable for you, keeping in mind that you will be in what is essentially a large bath. Many women choose to wear a bikini or tankini. Others choose to just wear a bra. You can wear a t-shirt or vest top if you want to be a little more covered.
What should I expect after a water birth?
8 things to expect with a water birth
- You’ll feel more relaxed.
- You’ll need a midwife.
- It’s not for everyone.
- Your whirlpool tub won’t work.
- The water is your pain relief.
- You may need to change your plans.
- Your midwife will move quickly.
- You might deliver the placenta out of the water.
What do you wear for a water birth?
Many women choose to wear a bikini or tankini. Others choose to just wear a bra. You can wear a t-shirt or vest top if you want to be a little more covered. It can be twisted up and tucked into the neck if it’s very long.
Are you more likely to tear with a water birth?
What are my chances of tearing if I labour in water? Your chances of tearing are likely to be the same whether you give birth in water or in air. The 2009 Cochrane Review found no difference in the likelihood of tearing (Cluett and Burns 2009). Episiotomy rates were also similar.
What are the benefits of having a water birth?
The benefits of water birth. Water birth during the first stages of childbirth — while the cervix dilates and contractions pick up in frequency and intensity, before pushing baby out — may: Decrease labor pain or your need for anesthesia. Decrease the duration of labor.
Are You a good candidate for a water birth?
You may or may not be a good candidate for a water birth if you’re carrying twins or higher order multiples. These pregnancies do have a higher risk of premature birth and other issues that may need closer monitoring during labor and delivery.
How do I prepare for a water birth?
Have plenty of drinking water on hand, along with a few washcloths your coach can dampen with cold water to help cool off your face or neck. Your practitioner will monitor your baby’s condition with an underwater Doppler device.
When is the best time to give birth in water?
Overall, ACOG recommends that laboring in water be offered to women who are between 37 weeks to 41 weeks, 6 days gestation. There are other guidelines, including having a low-risk pregnancy, clear amniotic fluid, and baby in head-down position.
