Vickie Answers Questions about Water Birth

Water Birth

What is a "Water Birth?"
The term "Water Birth" refers to a birth in which the baby is born under water. At the time of birth, the mom is sitting in a tub of water so that the baby is actually under water as he leaves the birth canal.
Do you do water births?
No, I do not, even though several midwives in the North Texas area do.
So you make sure that the moms you work with "don't go near the water?"
Actually, no, not at all. Many of my moms enjoy laboring in a bath tub full of water. It helps them relax and increases their comfort level. I have no problem with that, and even encourage it. But, as I say to my moms who enjoy laboring in the tub, "You can have your baby in the tub if you want to, but when it comes time to push your baby out, I'm going to pull the plug on you!"
Why not let them go ahead and deliver the baby under water?
There are a couple of reasons why I do not choose to do water births. For one thing, two of my own boys drew their first breath before they were completely born. I think it is possible that had they been under water they would have drawn the water into their lungs. There have been reports of babies that actually drowned as a result of water births.
I've also heard other midwives, who do water births, talk about the frequent need to "work with" babies for awhile after the water birth to get all the water out of their lungs! This seems to me to be an unnecessary extra trauma for many babies that could have been avoided if the baby had been born into air instead of water!
Are you aware of any other specific complications associated with water birth?
Some caregivers have expressed concern about the possibility of blood and/or fecal material in the water increasing the risks of infections for the baby. Some feel that the warm water may tend to contribute to excessive bleeding for the mom. Some have associated water birth with delayed delivery of the placenta. If the water temperature causes the mom's body temperature to increase, the baby's heartbeat may become too fast.
Well if it is risky, why do other midwives do it?
Well, of course they don't consider it to be risky. There is a demand for it. There are some advocates who have written books encouraging it. I'm sure that they would tell me that my boys would not have breathed if they had been under water. And I suppose they would emphasize that accidents have been very rare.
Do you think your own babies would have gotten in trouble since they breathed before they were fully delivered?
I honestly don't know. But I prefer to take no chances! As you know, the baby is under considerable pressure as he travels down the birth canal. As soon as the pressure is released (at birth), air can travel into the lungs. I want to make sure it is air, and not water! I know that water birth advocates say that the water pressure will keep the baby from inhaling, but the pressure of a few inches of water is not very much compared to the pressure of the birth canal muscles.
You said there were two reasons.
Well, yes. It seems to me that water birth is not really natural childbirth. I guess if you believe that we humans evolved from sea creatures you could argue that it is "natural" in some sense. But, of course, I believe that God created us as land creatures, and that having babies on dry land is the "natural" way to have babies!
Go to Home Page Go to Table of Contents (Send us email!) "Behold, Children are a gift of the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward!" (Psalm 127:3)