Labor and Delivery: The Benefits of Water Birth

Becoming a parent comes with many choices and decisions to raise a child. These decisions don’t start after the baby is born, but before! One of those decisions, with many options, is about labor and delivery.

It’s essential to choose the best birthing option for you and your baby.

If considering a water birth for your delivery, read on to learn the many incredible benefits and see if it’s a good labor and delivery option.

Reduced Pain During Labor and Delivery

Having a baby isn’t a walk in the park, but a water birth may be a great option to reduce your pain and create less need for medications.

The warm water can help relax your muscles, helping you naturally tolerate your labor pains. Water can also serve you by reducing stress-related hormones, allowing your body to produce endorphins and lessen pain.

Shorter Labor

Birthing a baby can, on average, take 4 to 8 hours during active labor. With a water birth, buoyancy allows you to move more freely to reposition and move during labor and contractions.

Because of this buoyancy, contractions progress more smoothly, rather than a stop and start or slow progression. 

More Control for Mom

When navigating labor options, it’s helpful to know how much control you would like to have during the process. Giving birth in a hospital makes it difficult to control your environment, movement, and comfort.

With a water birth, you have more options for where and how your labor and different methods for relaxation or progressing through contractions.

If you want more control over decisions and stages of labor as it progresses, a water birth might be an option to consider.

Calmer and Relaxing Environment

If a hospital environment is stressful or anxiety-filled for you, you might consider a water birth at a birth center. 

During your water birth, you will find a more calming and relaxing environment better for a smooth labor.

Bring your blood pressure down, caused by anxiety, through water immersion. A calmer and quieter environment allows you to relax your mind and body to better focus on the birth experience. Feel confident in your ability to move around, find more comfortable positions, play quiet music, and move slower with water birth.

Less Risk for Tearing

The warm water increases elasticity for the perineum, which could lessen your risk or the severity of tearing. Lessened tearing could mean fewer stitches and reduced discomfort in the healing process after delivery.

Water Birth Benefits to Welcome Your New Baby

Facing an upcoming labor and delivery experience can feel overwhelming with the many options and decisions, both big and small.

Consulting with your doctor and determining the best option for you and your baby is crucial. If you qualify for a water birth, you could experience a smoother and more relaxing environment to bring your baby into the world.

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