Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
Childbirth: Laboring in Water and Water Delivery
Laboring in water
Some hospitals and birthing centers offer tubs or whirlpools for laboring. If yours does, talk to your health professional about laboring in water. The warm water supports your body and helps you to relax. For many women, laboring in water has been proved to:1
- Reduce labor pain.
- Reduce the use of or need for pain medicine.
- Lower the mother's blood pressure.
- Help some women move along a slow labor and avoid a need for forceps, vacuum, or cesarean delivery.2
Some time before you are ready to push your baby out, you will have help getting out of the tub.
Delivering in water
A water birth is described as a "gentle birth" for the mother and baby. There is limited experience with this technique in the American medical community, and few studies have been done.
If you are thinking of a water birth, discuss it with your doctor or nurse-midwife.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: January 7, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
from
- 9 nastiest things in your supermarket
- Facebook is now fueling organ donations
- Military women and suicide: Home safe but not sound
- Still in gear: Injuries don’t stop veterans on 100-day bike trek
- Ask Jenna: I've hit a weight loss plateau. What do I do?
- He poses in a tutu to laugh in face of wife's cancer
The iVillage Network