Water Births: Are They Safe?

Prenatal

oi-Anwesha Barari

By Anwesha Barari

Friday, August 12, 2011, 18:30

Water births are the new fad in the medical industry. Every one is talking about this supposedly natural child birth method that has been resurrected from the past. Yes its true. Water births are not something scientists came up with at the spur of the moment. It is an ancient method for reducing delivery pain. There are many instances in history where babies were delivered in water. In some lost American civilizations this was the most practiced natural method of child birth. Now it has been streamlined by adding scientific know-how.

Benefits of Water Birth:

• Labor Pain Management: this is one of the biggest reasons that people are opting for water births these days. This procedure involves putting the mother in a pool of appropriately warm water and other complimenting activities like massages, aromatherapy and laughing gas inhalation are carried out.

• Relieves Back Pain: All expectant mothers complain of back pain and it is worsened by delivery pain cramps. Warm water anyway is soothing for any kind of pain. Moreover there are experts appointed to give massages relaxation.

• Helps In Breathing: Labor pains are almost always associated with anxiety attacks. The mother anticipates the pain before feeling it and that causes panic. In some cases it could prevent the mother from breathing normally. Warm water and aromatherapy helps the woman relax and take deep breaths which is necessary for normal contractions.

• Comfort For the Baby: The baby is in an alien environment when it comes out. The warm water creates an medium similar to the amniotic fluid inside the uterus. This comforts the baby a great deal.

Risks Associated With Water Births:
There is no doubt that this method of giving birth is gaining popularity due to its promise of reducing delivery pain. The question however is whether it is safe for both the mother and the child?

• What if the baby swallows the water? This a big risk. If the baby starts crying as soon as its head is out then there is a chance that it might swallow some water. The water will contain the mother's blood or may be other waste that comes out when the water breaks. This might lead to infections.

• Can the baby Drown? Well with modern medical help that is a fat chance! But it is not unheard of.

• What about blood loss? It is very difficult to assess how much blood the mother is losing when she is in a pool of water. It also very difficult to keep changing the water frequently. So if the mother is having more than normal blood loss it is better change course.

Water births have been garnering support from all quarters be it doctors, patients or scientists in the last half of a decade. So they are here to stay and will be improvised upon.