After witnessing a beautiful birth by candle light last night I am even more convinced (if possible) of how important it is to at least have water available to women in labour. With me at home this is always possible but even for women who are short sighted enough to choose hospital birth (the majority I know) then they should be able to chose water as an option to help them.
Here are a few moments from a birth that really say it all.
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Here is a waterbirth article from midirs.
I find there are many myths and lots of propaganda surrounding water birth. You can’t get in the water until you are 5cm being very popular. The joy of a homebirth is you can get in the water whenever you like. You don’t need anyone to put their fingers inside you to decide if you are allowed. You can decide for yourself. If your contractions space out. Blow me down you can just get right back out again. Birth isn’t a race and shouldn’t be timed. It’s a journey some are sprinting 100yds and some are doing cross country. Both have advantages and disadvantages and water can be a catalyst to an amazing experience for you and your baby. Also there is the notion that you can’t get in the water if your membranes rupture. Us of the vacuum fannies know that if we sucked that much water into our vaginas we would probably be in a circus. Please look at the waterbirth FAQ for more.
Our vagina’s are protection against infection for us and the baby so I think we can safely say we are not syphoning water up into our uterus.
Mess is also well contained, not that there is much mess from a homebirth and I take all dirty linen away and wash it for you anyway. In the water however it can just by put straight onto the garden. There are varying amounts of loss but here is an example of a pool after birth.
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I’ve always wondered about the dogma of “don’t get in before 5 cms, because it might slow labor down.” I loved your comment on that! Worst case, it gives you a little break during labor.
I was in and out of the tub probably 5-6 times during my labor. In for 30 minutes, out for 30 minutes, repeat repeat repeat. I just didn’t feel like staying in one place for a long time.