SWIM BABY..SWIM (Water Births)

Member Name: chrissypops

Product:	Water Births
Date:	03/01/01 (474 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A more relaxed, calming birth experience

Disadvantages: COST A HANDSOME PENNY TO HIRE A POOL IF A POOL ISNT AN OPTION IN THE HOSPITAL

Did you know that a baby has an ability of swimming under water... from birth? Did you know its the cold air that makes the baby take its first breath? Did you know that most of the fluid in the lungs is absorbed back into the body though the lining of the lungs? I didn't until I opted for a water birth.

I didn't get a water birth with my first child. One of the most important things with opting for a water birth is that you are fit, healthy and positive. I was far from positive when I went into labour and although I laboured in the birthing pool, I came out and had my first on "dry land" .After a hard labour and 2 hours of pushing I still had a baby who had a headache, but was beautiful all the same.

When I fell pregnant with my second, I was determined to have a water birth. So I read more about it. The first thing I encountered about water births was the safety issue. Many people believe that a baby might drown whilst being born. This isn't true. When a foetus is inside the womb, its is constantly "breathing" in the amniotic fluid and then excreting it out. The amniotic fluid is body temperature so its warm enough for the baby not to breathe in the normal way, which is the exchange of oxygen through the windpipe and lungs. The foetus gets its life giving oxygen through the umbilical cord, before, during and just after s/he is being born. After which the cord breaks down as the lungs empty out of fluid and fill up with air.

The natural "DIVING REFLEX", which is present in all new born babies stops the intake of water. This occurs by the baby putting its tongue to the roof of its mouth and this shuts off the windpipe. While the baby is being born it still gets the oxygen its needs and is gently brought up and out of the water onto its mothers chest. Its the cold air that makes the baby take its first breath of oxygen not the birth process itself.

Some women and partners are al
so concerned with the temperature of the water itself. The temperature has to be around 36/37 degrees C for the birth. Any hotter and mum to be would get tired, which may led to the contractions slowing down or stopping. Any cooler and there is a risk that when the baby is born the coolness could set off the normal breathing process. The temperature of the water is constantly monitored by the midwife or if she has to leave, by your partner. Whilst you are in labour you can have the water at any temperature you like but as you near transition stage or about 8 cm dilated, your midwife will make sure the temperature is right. 37 degrees C doesn't sound warm but it is quite hot. Remember to drink ice cold water, little but often to stop dehydration.

One of the reasons why I wanted a water birth was because of benefits of the birth process. Any women who is fit, healthy and has had no complications though pregnancy can have a water birth. You have the right to give birth wherever you choose and not where your G. P or anyone else wants you to have it. By complications I mean, pre eclampsia( very high blood pressure), breech babies and multiple births( twins or more).

Labouring in water has renowned effect on the body. Anyone can appreciate what a warm bath can do after a hard day, and its the same for labour. Lets face it labour is called labour because it very hard work. As soon as you enter warm water, you relax. If you relax, you body will make less adrenalin, and more endomorphines, the bodies natural painkillers. you will still feel the contractions, but it will help take the edge off them. It is important to have faith in your body and trust your instincts. If you feel that water isn't working or the contractions are getting very strong then have some gas and air. If you need anything stronger you will have to get out of the pool for safety reasons. Pethedine or anything stronger with make you drowsy, and therefore you could slip.


Positive sensations too can help with the relaxation process. Things like massage, touch, music, aroma therapy or anything that can give comfort, travels faster to the brain therefore overriding the negative sensations..... pain from the contractions, fear of labour and birth.

Water has a buoyancy effect too. It makes us lighter, more supported, and relaxed. This in turn makes our bodies relax and makes labour and birth easier. It helps when the water is over our bellies and you can find a position which is comfortable without being too tiring. Being in water too softens most bodily tissue, including the perineum, the tissue between the vagina and anus. If this area is soft, it stretches and makes birth easier. There is less chance of tearing or episiotomy ( a cut) and more chance of having no stitches. I had 8 stitches with my first which I gave birth on "dry land " and none with my second with a water birth.


I was lucky, my hospital had a birthing pool but many haven't. If you still want to have a water birth you can hire a pool( will talk about pools further down the opinion). Its a good idea to have a look at a pool before you decide and I feel that every women should have a tour of a hospital where they are hoping to go anyway.

When I went to see the birthing pool at Doncaster royal Infirmary when I was 35 weeks pregnant, I was surprised how nice the room was. All the medical equipment was away in the cupboards but within easy access if needed. The bed was at one end of the room and the pool at the other. The pool was like a large, kidney shaped bath, but quite deep. It was filled with water by taps and takes about 30 mins. There was a sink near by, and gas and air on tap from the wall. The midwife who showed me around was lovely. She explained to me that if someone is already in the birthing pool when I came in, then I could only labour in a bath, but give birth on " dry land", as there was
only had one birthing pool. She also told me about birthing in the pool and what happens after.

I wasn't expecting to see that pool 3 weeks later, when I was 2 weeks early. I started labour on Saturday morning with a show and by midnight I had, had enough. I arrived at the hospital at just before 1 am on Sunday morning , after being monitored, the pool was filled and I got in the pool at just after 2 am. I felt in control, and with just deep breathing I was doing fine until I came to about 8 cm dilated. I started to lose control and a bit disorientated with the gas and air. I almost got out twice but I was reminded if I got out then I wouldn't be able to have a water birth. I must of really wanted it because I sat back in the water and within 10 mins I had a beautiful baby girl within my arms. Lucy was born at 4.45 am on Sunday 4/6/2000.

Those 10 mins seemed like a flash in time now but lasted soo long then. The midwife examined me and told me I was about 8 cm dilated but my membrane wasn't broke (amniotic sac where the baby lays in ), so she stroked it and it popped. Contrary to belief giving birth in water isn't messy at all, no blood, just the amniotic fluid, which you cant really notice in the water. I went from 8 cm to fully dilated within a few moments and I told her I was ready to push. I was fully aware what I was doing and had faith in my body and the midwives around me that my baby would be delivered safely. With 4 pushes her head was out and I was told to pant so their could unloop the coil from around the neck. This happens in most births and as long you follow your midwife's instructions you baby will be o k. After she told me it was alright to push to the next contraction, it seemed like forever. Finally a contraction came and I pushed.. and pushed. I suddenly realised that my hands were helping my baby out. Whether it was a natural instinct or whether the midwife put my hands there I do not know. With
in a few pushes both mine and the midwife's hands slowly and gently guided Lucy to the surface and onto my chest.

She was so alert but calm. Just looking around and taking it all in. It must of been a moment so until she uttered a squeak of a cry and then closed her eyes. After my husband cut the cord, she was checked over and wrapped up. I was left in the pool for a few reasons. When you give birth in water, they like you to have a "physiological 3rd stage" The 3rd stage of labour is when the afterbirth is expelled from the body. This is done through mild contractions, but if you have a "dry " birth you are giving an injection to speed the process. When you have a water birth they like you to wait and let the body start it off. The whole idea of a water birth is natural with no or little medical intervention. I felt a few contractions and promptly told them, which then they walk you to the bed. You are taking out for the 3rd stage because they have to make sure that the afterbirth is intact and nothing is left inside you, and to monitor your blood loss. If you loose too much blood you will have to have a transfusion. If they suspect anything is left behind, they will give you an injection so that the uterus will contract down even further and hopefully expel anything that's been left. They always tell you to look out for clots in your loss after the birth for this reason as this could be a sign of an infection and needs seeing to promptly.

I chose to breast feed and Lucy' s first feed was about 20 mins after she was born. She was still alert and still didn't cry just squeaked from time to time. We were left in the birthing room for 2 hrs. Just Lucy, Tim and I, as a family. They didn't even clean the pool, which now looked like a slaughter house as all the blood came from the 3rd stage Sorry for being graphic!

At about 7.30 am I was moved from the room to the ward where I stayed till 6 pm that eve
ning when I decided to come home. I was so eager for Jess( 1st daughter) to meet Lucy. I felt tired, but euphoric. Lucy slept well and fed every 4 hrs. She was so calm and hardly cried and I still put it down to the relaxing birth she had. I too am so much more relaxed with motherhood and was out an about within 3 days of the birth to take Jess to her Mother and Toddler groups. I was tired but I wanted everyone to meet my new addition and for Jess to be proud of her new baby sister.

Like I mentioned earlier you can hire a birthing pool if your hospital doesn't have one. You don't even have to have your baby at your nearest hospital but don't go to far away from home. The best and the most well known Birthing pool hirers are SPLASHDOWN. This company have been established since 1989 and have many pick up points around the country. Hiring a pool for 4 weeks it will cost you about £145 + £50 deposit, which is returnable. It sounds a lot but I think if you want the opportunity to experience a water birth, its well worth it.

You can find out more about hiring birthing pools, experiences of water births and more information at,


www.splashdown.org.uk/index.htm

www.waterbirth.org

http://www.tranquil-waters.com/tranquil.htm

http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/content/bir th/whywater/

Dont forget to ask your midwife too!!!

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