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Waterbirth

• Benefits of waterbirth
  

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Water birth

If you love baths and find them relaxing, a waterbirth might be just the thing for you!

Using a birthpool does not mean you have to give birth in water. Many women will enter the birthpool when they are 5-6 cm dilated. The warm water will work as a painrelief and will help you relax. It also gives you your 'own space'. You are in a way 'untouchable' what can work relaxing for some women.

Some people will just use the birth pool for the earlier stages of labour and come out of the birthpool for the second stage of labour.

Most women however, stay in the birth pool until the baby is born. Hence the name waterbirth. Some people may say that it is dangerous for the baby to be born in the water. It is not. The baby will breath as soon as the baby is lifted out of the water. Ofcourse it is important here that the pool is filled to a sufficient level, so the baby stays completely underwater until he or she is lifted out of the pool.

A big benefit of a waterbirth is that your perineum is softened up because of the warm water, which reduces your chances of tearing.

The midwife will normally let you go in the water when you are 5-6 cm dilated. But sometimes earlier. It could happen that you relax so much, that labour stops completely. Enjoy that little break, because most of the time it will start by itself again after a little while. Should this not be the case, don't worry, just come out of the water for a while until labour is established again. It is not unknown that the women relaxes so much that labour actually speeds up. So full dilation is achieved quicker.

You can take different positions during your water birth. Squatting, standing, kneeling are all possibilities. You can hold on to the side of the pool and have someone massage your back. Or just rest your head on the side to rest in between contractions.

There are different pools to choose from. Some with heaters and filters. Some made from wood or plastic. And you can choose to hire one or buy one.

Please read more about your options and prices in Birthpools compared.