Definition of the water birth

Water birth is the process of giving birth in a tub of warm water. Some women
choose to labor in the water and get out for delivery. Other women decide to stay in the
water for the delivery as well. The theory behind water birth is that since the baby has
already been in the amniotic fluid sac for 9 months, birthing into a similar environment is
gentler for the baby and less stressful for the mother.
Midwives, birthing centers and a growing number of obstetricians believe that reducing
the stress of labor and delivery will reduce fetal complications. Water birth should
always occur under the supervision of a qualified health care provider. Water birth
process lasts for 15 minutes.

Benefits for Mother

1. Warm water is soothing, comforting, relaxing.

2. In the later stages of labor, the water has been shown to increase the
woman’s energy.
3. The effect of buoyancy lessens a mother’s body weight, allowing free
movement and new position.
4. Buoyancy promotes more efficient uterine contractions and improved blood
circulation resulting in better oxygenation of the uterine muscles, less pain for
the mother, and more oxygen for the baby.
5. Immersion in water often helps lower high blood pressure caused by anxiety.
6. The water seems to reduce stress-related hormones, allowing the mother’s
body to produce endorphins which serve as pain-inhibitors.
7. Water causes the perineum to become more elastic and relaxed, reducing the
incidence and severity of tearing and the need for an episiotomy and stitches.
8. As the laboring women relaxes physically, she is able to relax mentally with
greater ability to focus on the birth process.
 9. Since the water provides a greater sense of privacy, it can reduce inhibitions,
anxiety, and fears.

Benefits for Baby

1. Provides an environment similar to the amniotic sac.

2. Eases the stress of the birth thus increasing reassurance and sense of
security

Risk for the mother

Over the last 30 years as water birth has grown in popularity, there has been
very little research regarding the risks of water birth. Some studies in Europe have
shown similar perinatal mortality rates between water births and conventional births. 1
According to an article written by the Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists,
there might be a theoretical risk of water embolism, which occurs when water enters the
mother’s blood stream.2 Though the British Medical Journal is 95% confident in the
safety of water births, they see a possible risk of water aspiration. If the baby is
experiencing stress in the birth canal or if the umbilical cord becomes kinked or twisted,
the baby might gasp for air with the possibility of inhaling water.3This would be a rare
occurrence because babies do not normally inhale until they are exposed to air. They
continue to receive oxygen through the umbilical cord until they start to breathe on their
own or until the cord is cut. The final potential risk is that the umbilical cord could snap
as the baby is brought to the surface of the water. This can be prevented by using
caution when lifting the baby up to the mother’s chest.

Reference
http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/water-birth/

ENGLISH PAPER TASK

“ WATER BIRTH ”

Lecturer : Ivan Chabibilah SS

Written by :

1. Dzurrotul Uyun
2. Fina Yuliani
3. Ipana Pujianti
4. Nur khikmah
5. Oktavia Sari

SEMESTER 3 A
HARAPAN IBU PEKALONGAN MIDWIFERY ACADEMY
ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014