Why Do We Provide Labor Hydrotherapy or Waterbirth?
Using birth water or hydrotherapy during labor provides many positive benefits for both mom and baby. At the highest level it reduces pain and anxiety, helping to make the entire delivery process go more smoothly. It also normalizes blood pressure and fetal heart rate and improves oxytocin levels for labor progress. Other benefits include improved blood flow to the baby, softening of maternal tissues providing elasticity and relaxation, and reduced infection risk. Lastly, hydrotherapy or waterbirth eases a baby’s transition to the outside world thus reducing medical interventions.
What precautions do we take in providing hydrotherapy?
Our team monitors both mother and baby during a waterbirth or hydrotherapy. This includes checking mom's vital signs, the fetal heart rate, and the water temperature of the birth pool. We also don’t leave the mother or the pool unattended once it is filled with water. At birth, we keep the water at or above full to ensure the baby is underwater except for the head. This positions mom and baby so there is no tension on the umbilical cord. Lastly, a single purpose hose fills the water and it never sits more than six hours to reduce infection risk.
Why Use Inflatable Birth Pools for Hydrotherapy and not Ceramic Tubs?
We know from our waterbirth experience that inflatable birth pools with soft surfaces are more comfortable for mom than ceramic tubs. They also have no jets which can be portals for infection during labor. The pools are sanitized after use but there’s no need for toxic chemicals to disinfect them. This is because they have disposable liners which provide a barrier to any contaminants. In addition, this avoids any direct pool contact with the client. Lastly inflatable birth pools are portable, fit in most rooms, and provide easy access to the bed area. They come in different sizes and shapes for parent preferences.
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