Giving birth is often associated with the proud joys of attaining parenthood. Sometimes, however, the fear of pain and complications may get in the way. Water birth, which refers to childbirth that occurs in water, is said to provide a less painful and stressful experience with a key benefit of reducing the need of epidurals.
What can you expect from a water birth?
There are various pre-requisites to fulfil and preparations to be made before you can attempt a water birth. “It is not just simply going into a bathtub filled with water and giving birth. There must be adequate preparation. It’s a personal choice that’s totally dependent on the individual and their expectations of childbirth,” Professor Chong says.
Unsuitable candidates
Mothers who:
- Have pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia or toxaemia
- Have health problems such as high blood pressure, hepatitis B or viral infections
- Are carrying twins or other multiples
- Are giving birth to a baby in the breech position (baby’s bottom or feet ready to come out first)
Dr Tseng also emphasises that the amount of pain mothers can tolerate is a key consideration, as drugs are normally not administered during water births.
A mother who wants to attempt a water birth will go through a thorough education about the procedures and the risks involved as well as the necessary preparations she needs to undertake, which includes engaging the services of a one-to-one midwife or doula, attending antenatal classes, and discussing the procedure with her obstetrician.
What happens if something goes wrong during a water birth?
Don’t panic! The doctors are trained and know what to do in the event anything significantly life-altering occurs. Mothers must also realise the obstacles and signs that might emerge, which will render them unable to go on with their water birth. If the baby shows signs of distress, the water birth will be called off and a vaginal delivery in bed or a Caesarean section will be performed.
Possible Risks
Critics of water births say that the benefits are not supported with concrete evidence and that there are risks involved.
“Medical literature reveals several reports of concerns associated with water birth, including inhalation of the contaminated water by the baby, risk of infection and temperature regulation issues,” Professor Tan Kok Hian, Chairman of the Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, says.
However, Dr. Tseng maintains that these disadvantages and risks are possible only in the theoretical sense. “By not using a spa, bacteria collating in the recycled water is prevented. In all my years of conducting water births since 1995, I haven’t had any infections and complications.”
A common concern is over the risk of infant drowning. However, Dr. Tseng asserts that he has never heard of a properly conducted water birth locally that resulted in an infant drowning.
Benefits
The several benefits that mothers receive from hydro-birthing revolve around the change in environment water brings about.
1. Relaxation
According to Associate Professor Chong Yap Seng, senior consultant of NUH Women’s Centre, the warm water helps mothers cope with the discomfort of labour. The water also provides buoyancy so that mothers are not stuck in one position during childbirth. They can float around and adopt positions that are comfortable for them in the tub.
Warm water also relaxes the pelvic floor muscles, leading to lesser resistance from the birth canal during delivery and helping to facilitate labour during the second stage of delivery.
Water births also reduce the risk of the perineum, the area between the vagina and the anus, tearing during labour.
2. Drug- and trauma-free
Dr. Paul Tseng of Thomson Medical Centre explains that a water birth is usually drug-free since hydrotherapy relieves pain. The benefits for the baby are less clear, but some feel that it is a smoother and less traumatic transition from the mother’s womb into the world for the infant due to the liquid environment.
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