Are there any advantages to giving birth in water?

Water births have become a popular trend among expectant-mums. This is unsurprising since it comes with a number of benefits for both mother and baby. However, this type of delivery also comes with a few risks.  

Advantages

• The water helps relieve pressure in your joints, which means you’re able to move more freely during labour.
• This type of delivery lessens the chances of your perineum tearing. Since the water softens your tissues, they can easily stretch around your baby’s head as you deliver.
• There is a higher chance that you give birth in an upright position when you deliver in water than when you’re on dry land. This may lead to an easier delivery.
• The transition from the environment in your womb to the outside world may be easier for your baby since he or she emerges from the waters of the womb into the water of the birthing pool.

Disadvantages

• There’s a higher chance that the umbilical cord snaps following a water birth than a normal delivery. In most cases, a snapped cord is not a major emergency for a trained doctor.
• Some doctors think that a water birth increases the chances of your perineum tearing.

While the decision is up to you, there are some situations where water births should be avoided. Usually, your GP will let you know whether it’s a risk for you to use this method. But generally, you will not be able to give birth in a pool if:

• You’re having more than one baby.
• Your baby is premature.
• Your baby is in the breech position.
• The second stage of labour goes on for too long.

If you are already in the birthing pool, your midwife may ask you to leave if:

• You feel faint.
• There is a problem with your baby’s heartbeat,
• You’re in need of a strong relief pain like epidural or
• You start bleeding.