What
about what the baby goes through? Just imagine that your little
one is as cozy and warm as can be for the past 9 months. You
have given that little wonder a warm and secure environment
only to have him arrive in a cold, bright and noisy world.
That is why waterbirthing is such a beautiful way to bring
your little wonder into this world. Imagine the having your
baby arrive in a warm, quite, safe and inviting environment
where the first touch is your arms. I can't think of a more
beautiful way to start a relationship.
The
benefits of waterbirthing is so numerous... here are just
a few
*
ease the pain of labor where only 10% of mom's ask for pain
relief
*
relaxation of mom
*
can faciltate a slow labor
*
relaxed pelvic floor
*
relieve anxiety
*
empowers the mom
*
can increase blood circulation
If
you decide you want to use water to help you labor, you need
to have a few things in mind. The water temperature should
be around your body temperature. Be careful when entering
the tub and try to enter between contractions. Make sure the
tub is large enough so that you can move freely and be able
to change positions to what makes you feel comfortable.
Women
usually enter the tub when they are about 5-8 cm dilated.
Check with your caregiver, but you should not need to worry
about infection if your membranes have ruptured, as long as
your are following proper hygenics.
The
following are some interesting statistics about waterbirths
*
The women had shorter labors.
*
Cervical dilatation was more efficient- 2.5 centimeters per
hour compared with 1.25 centimeters per hour for mothers who
did not take advantage of water during their labors.
*
The descent of the babies was twice as fast.
*
The women reported less pain.
*
The cesarean section rate was one-third that of traditional
hospital births.
*
Mothers labeled "high-risk" because of high blood
pressure showed a dramatic reduction in their blood pressure
within minutes of immersion in the pool.
(see
end note #1)
Whether
you decide to just labor in water, or have an actual waterbirth
you can still take advantage of what water has to offer.
Waterbirthing
can be not only a gentle way to bring your little one into
the world, but as you can see, it is also a SAFE alternative.
Also, remember that being educated is the most important thing
you can do to keep yourself happy and healthy througout your
pregnancy.
#1
Sears, William,Martha Sears,and Linda Hughey Holt. The Pregnancy
Book. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1997.
Heather
Hill is the author of several natural childbirth articles.
Please visit http://www.hip-chick-pregnancy-guide.com
for more interesting articles.
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