A normal water birthing experience can vary and will not be the same for everymother. The standard process, however, starts when labour pains become more intense and the mother is in active labour. After this, the mother is asked to getinto the water pool.
Once in the water pool, the mother can adopt any position that she finds most comfortable. The temperature of the water is monitored carefully and customized according to the mother’s needs. The mother’s temperature ischecked periodically, and the baby’s health is also observed using waterproof equipment.
If labour pains peak and become impossible to handle, pain-relief in the form of Entonox gas can also be offered.
It is possible that the mother neglects her nutrition and hydration a little when she is in the pool. This is why she will be asked to take in small quantities of soft fruit, curd, etc. Partners can also play an active role here by making surenutrition and hydration stays consistent throughout, as the labouring body is working especially hard.
Water birth pools are specifically designed for water birth.
They are deeper and larger than a regular bathtub, and promote morefreedom of movement and buoyancy. Movement in labour helps the babydescend and enables women to choose comfortable positions which reducespain, allow gravity to assist, and create space in the pelvis. In the water,mothers can easily move about and change positions due to the buoyancy ofwater, which leads to a shorter labour while conserving energy. For motherswho choose to birth in the water, the water provides a cushioning effectwhich protects the perineum.
