It is estimated that 9 in 100 births are waterbirths and are one option when it comes to how to give birth to your baby. Figures from Derby Hospital from the first 3 months of 2024 show that there were just 30 waterbirths. You will be faced with many decisions during your birth planning (for tips on creating your birth plan, see here). If a water birth may be an option for you, then this post will give you a great starting point to find out all about them.
What is a waterbirth?
A water birth is when all or part of a birth happens in water. Many women decide on a waterbirth because of the decrease in pain relief side but there can be many other reasons too.
Who can have a waterbirth?
According to the NHS, low-risk women 37weeks+ can find waterbirth at the MLU available to them. With low-risk births, the benefits of waterbirth greatly outweigh the risks (Evidence-Based Birth, 2024). However, waterbirth can be an option for all, even if you have a higher BMI, raised blood pressure, gestational diabetes, etc (Garland and Ashworth, for AIMS, 2019).
What are the benefits of having a waterbirth?
Help relieve pain, by being relaxing (water is kept at a pleasant 37degrees), creates weightlessness, enables you to move, and is generally very soothing
Helps with optimal foetal positioning
Shorter 1st stage labour, by an average of 32 minutes
Increased maternal satisfaction
Less chance of needing drip to speed up labour
Decreased rate of instrumental delivery
Less chance of episiotomy or tearing (Burns et. al, 2022)
Reduced rates of opioids, epidural and postpartum haemorrhage
More hands-off-birth as the midwife can't get to you as easily, meaning fewer vaginal examinations.
What are the risks or downsides of having a waterbirth?
Though rare, there is a slightly increased risk of cord avulsion. Cord avulsion is the snapping or tearing of the umbilical cord. This is associated with lifting the baby out of the water too quickly or a shorter umbilical cord. The identification of cord avulsion and clamping the cord quickly is the best way to deal with it. It is thought that this happens in 4.1 in 1000 waterbirths compared to 1.3 in land births (births taking place out of water).
You can't have injectable opioids or epidural.
Uterine infection rates rise from around 0.25% for land births to around 0.31% for waterbirths. Although hospitalisation for infection does not increase with this rate, suggesting that it can be treated at home with antibiotics (EBB)
Can I have a waterbirth at Derby Hospital?
In short, yes! You absolutely can. There is 1 birth pool in the MLU at Derby Hospital. The downside is that there IS only 1 birth pool. So, depending on how many women are in the MLU and want a birth pool for their birth, you may not be able to get one.
An alternative would be to rent a birth pool for a home birth. These can be hired from several places, some local doulas hire them out.
Some things to note about waterbirths at home
As with everything, there are a few things to consider if you think a waterbirth at home is for you;
Firstly, do you have space for a birth pool?
Is a tap within a reasonable distance to fill the birth pool? (You will have a hose and a connector- does this connector fit your tap?)
It can take some time to fill up a birth pool. It may be worth practising putting up a birth pool and filling it up. And, emptying it as well.
Have a stool handy and plenty of towels for a safe exit from the pool.
It's recommended to get in the pool once you are around 7cm dilated, this is down to the effectiveness of water as pain relief, reducing dehydration - so keep drinking plenty), and keeping the water at the right temperature.
Further Reading on Waterbirths
If you're interested in reading around and doing more reading on waterbirths, here are a few good places to get some evidence-based information:
Evidence-Based Birth
In conclusion
As with anything in the birth world, getting evidence-based information, and working out what is right for your circumstances is crucial. Use your B.R.A.I.N and find what works for you.
Amy x
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