Everything you need to know about childbirth in water

Do you want to give life as naturally as possible? Water birth can be a solution! This practice aims to relax the mother to give birth smoothly. Be careful, however, there are some contraindications. We take stock.

Why not give birth in water? This practice appeals to more and more women today. And for good reason, it allows future mothers to give life in the most natural way possible. The birth is very gentle, in a calm environment, and promises to be virtually painless. According to some studies, it may reduce the risk of an episiotomy. It would also be less brutal for the child.

While it is very popular in Northern Europe, it is not always recommended by healthcare professionals in France. The reason ? It can involve certain more or less serious risks for the mother and her baby and has very little scientific data on it. Procedure, benefits, preparation… We take stock of this practice.

How does a water birth go?

As soon as the pregnant woman begins to feel painful contractions, she settles in a tub filled with water. The water temperature can vary throughout labor for the well-being of the expectant mother. In general, it is between 33 ° and 37 °. This immersion in the bath during the dilation phase (during which the contractions cause the cervix to open) allows the pregnant woman to relax and reduce the pain.

When it comes time to give birth, the expectant mother can choose to stay in the tub or get out and go to a regular delivery room. If she decides to give birth in water, the baby will be expelled directly into the tub before rising to the surface. Don't panic, there is no risk of drowning. He was bathed in amniotic fluid for nine months. Also, as long as it is connected to the umbilical cord, it will receive blood and oxygen from the placenta. As long as it has not been in contact with air, the breathing reflex is not triggered.

Rest assured, it will only stay in the bath for a few seconds. The baby will then be placed on his mother, his head out of the water, his body still submerged. After giving birth, the mother will have to expel the placenta. This step should be done outside of the water. In some cases, this can be done in an empty tub. In others, on the delivery bed where the mother and the newborn will then sit.

During all stages of the water birth, the mother is supervised by a midwife and followed with waterproof monitoring. This allows in particular to monitor the baby's heart rate. Note that an epidural is not possible in water since it requires the insertion of a catheter.

What are the benefits of an aquatic birth?

Giving birth in water above all promises to reduce pain. The heat of the water has an analgesic effect, allowing the expectant mother to relax and release her muscles. The water will also make the perineum and the tissues more flexible. This would speed up the work, although there is no scientific data to prove it.

The expectant mother may feel more comfortable, since she is not constrained to any position and can move around in the tub.

According to some studies, aquatic childbirth would also limit the risk of having an episiotomy (around 10% for a first birth against 75% for a traditional childbirth).

Thanks to this state of relaxation, the baby would also be less stressed and calmer at the time of birth. Some also claim that being born in water would be less brutal for the baby, more natural, given that he spent nine months bathing in amniotic fluid. Aquatic childbirth promotes the instant skin to skin at birth and therefore the creation of the mother-child bond. The first breastfeeding can still be done in the bathtub and / or the basin.

What are the risks ?

There is normally little risk that the baby will die during a water birth. However, even if the CNGOF (National College of French Obstetrician Gynecologists) has not issued any recommendations on the subject, some experts are warning about the dangers of this practice. According to them, this poses hygiene problems and infectious risks for mother and child. They also express their fears in the event of a complication when the woman gives birth: the medical team will take longer to take the mother and / or baby out of the water and the consequences may therefore be more dramatic.

Can all women give birth in water?

Every pregnancy is different and not all mothers-to-be can have an aquatic birth. There are many contraindications. Already, it must not be a risky pregnancy. Then the mother should not suffer from pathologies such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, pre-eclampsia, etc. The planned delivery must not present any problem such as prematurity, bad fetal position, abnormalities, etc. It is also not possible if it is a big baby. A pregnant mother's state of fatigue also plays an important role, as does her ease in water and her sensitivity. In short, both mother and child should be in perfect health, with no problems to report.

This is a decision that should be carefully considered by the mother-to-be. She needs to be informed of both the risks and the benefits of water birth. Also, just because a woman was able to give birth in water for her first child does not mean that she will do so for the second. All births are different.

What preparation?

A water birth does not happen without preparation! From the fifth month of pregnancy, the mother-to-be will follow “lessons” with a midwife in a swimming pool to prepare as well as possible for this unique moment. These preparation times can be done in groups or individually. The role of the midwife will be to teach the pregnant woman relaxation techniques and how to breathe when labor begins and during delivery. This will also allow the latter to strengthen the back, legs and arms.

Can we give birth at home?

It is possible to perform an aquatic birth at home and in the maternity ward. If the mother-to-be wishes to give birth in water at home, then she will need to be supervised by a midwife trained in the practice and aware of her project. A discussion between the healthcare professional and the pregnant woman about this method is necessary before the birth. The latter can give life in her bathtub or in a previously purchased inflatable birthing pool.

For those more concerned with being supervised by a medical team, a few maternities in France offer childbirth in water. They are equipped with large ergonomic baths with handles or a basin to accommodate the mother and midwives are trained in the practice. Still, few maternities in France offer aquatic births, so it is essential to get information well before birth. It is also essential to discuss this with the team so that everything runs smoothly.

Which maternities practice aquatic childbirth?

Only a few maternity hospitals in France offer water births. Here they are :

  • Maternity of Lilas, Les Lilas (93)
  • Arcachon Hospital Center, La Teste de Buch (33)
  • Guingamp Hospital Center, Guingamp (22)
  • Oloron Polyclinic, Oloron Sainte-Marie (64)
  • Sedan Hospital Center (08)
  • Vitrolles clinic (13)
  • Adassa clinic in Strasbourg (67)
  • Orthez Hospital Center (64)
  • Pierre Rouques metallurgists hospital (75)
  • Maternity Bluets de Paris (75)

Read also:

Home birth: what are the advantages of this practice?
What are the most important vitamins and minerals during pregnancy?
What you probably didn't know about amniotic fluid

9 months pregnant in 90 seconds

Video by Catherine nowak