Water birth
Water birth is a method of giving birth where the mother gives birth to her child in a bathtub or basin full of warm water. Proponents claim this method has many favorable effects for the mother and child and is a safe and soft alternative to the other ways of delivery.
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History
Water birth has been used by many primitive civilizations and isn't an invention of modern medicine.
During the last century, high-tech obstetricians replaced natural birth methods like water birth. But in recent decades some have returned to alternative methods since as this one. Water birth has flourished in the past 20 years.
Advantages
To the mother
The warm water eases labour by reducing the tensions and pain. Besides the water stimulates the endogenous labour hormones. The tissue becomes elastic, resulting in fewer lacerations and wounds.
Most bathtubs offer enough space and straps. With descreased gravity the pregnant woman can change her position very easily. In most cases, water births are shorter and less painful and few women need analgesics. Additionally the woman can have eye-contact with her baby during birth—considered by some a special bonding situation which deepens the relationship between mother and child.
To the baby
Birth is also a strenuous effort to the baby and water eases this exertion. The warm liquid is still familiar to the child and softens light, colors and noises. The diving reflex prevents the baby from swallowing water.
Proponents claim that in spite of the substances which the mother excretes into the water there is no increased risk of infection. The child received antibodies against these substances when it was in the uterus.
Acceptance
Water birth is accepted in Germany where most of the maternity clinics have a birth-bathtub. It is also possible to give birth at home in one's own bathtub together with a midwife or to go into a so called Geburtshaus, which is a maternity institution where only midwifes work.
Sometimes water births are possible if there were some complications during the pregnancy. But in this case a doctor must be present at birth.
References
- Flade, Ines: Rundbrief Nummer 2. Einiges über die Wassergeburt.
- Geburtsberichte, Geburtshaus und mehr e.V. Jena, Jena 1999.