How to Use a Labor Tub During Childbirth

Using a labor tub during childbirth

Using water and labor tubs during delivery can help to lessen pain. Water supports your body and decreases muscle tension. Water tubs help you to feel less pain and enable your body to save energy for the delivery. The following article discusses how to use labor tubs during childbirth.

Things You'll Need

• Labor Tub

Instructions

How to Use a Labor Tub During Childbirth

1. Be sure to have the water in the tub around body temperature. This is typically bath water temperature.

2. Immerse yourself in the tub so that the water completely covers your uterus. This means being in water that reaches just above your breasts.

3. Get into the tub when you feel that you need relief from the pain of the contractions. For most women, this occurs when they are dialated between 5 and 8 centimeters.

4. Change positions in the tub during labor to help ease the pain.

5. Get out of the tub when you feel the urge to push.

Tips & Warnings

• Women who use water tubs often have shorter labors.

• Women who use labor tubs report less pain.

• If you do not have access to a labor tub, try sitting in a regular tub filled with body temperature water.

• It is rarely necessary to leave the labor tub for routine tests.

• If labor stalls while you are in the tub, get out and walk until labor begins again.

• When you enter and exit the tub, do so between contractions.

• Enter and exit the tub with assistance so that you don't slip.

Resources

• Using water during childbirth
• Buying supplies for a water delivery