Water Birth Safety

A water birth is when a laboring mother sits in a tub or pool of water during the labor and birth of her child. The benefits include increased comfort for the mother and a gentler infant transition into the world. There are those who are opposed to water birth, however. Any woman participating in a water birth should implement certain safety measures.

Depth

The water should be deep enough to provide comfort for the laboring mother, but not too deep. A partner should be able to see the bottom clearly.

Temperature

A woman's body temperature should never get too high during pregnancy or labor. The water during a water birth should stay between 89.6 and 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, says GivingBirthNaturally.com.

Visibility

Bloody show is normal during labor. Make sure the water is always clear enough to see birthing progress. If not, change the water.

Assistance

A partner should be present at all times during a water birth to assist the mother and ensure the safety of the baby.

Risks

Those with water birth reservations believe there is a risk of infant drowning and increased infection risk once the water is broken.

References

• GivingBirthNaturally.com

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Photo Credit

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Daniel Lobo