quick clicks

pregnancy today articles

pregnancy today q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Weighing in on Water Births

Why Are Moms-to-be Choosing This Birth Method?

By Katherine Bontrager

Mother's Day had extra special meaning for Katy Gartland this year – it marked the arrival of her daughter, Natalie. However, Natalie's big entrance into this world was a bit unusual: She was born in a blow-up kiddie pool in a room at La Porte Hospital in La Porte, Ind.

Gartland and her husband, Tim, opted for a water birth, wherein much of the laboring – and the delivery – occur in warm water. "We were the first water birth in a hospital setting in our county," Gartland says. "I had a doula and a midwife and the OB in the room. Everything was perfect. We had to bring all of the equipment because the hospital hadn't had this happen on the OB unit. We brought our own pool, pump, hoses and faucet adapter."

After only an hour of time in the pool, Gartland successfully gave birth to 7-pound, 5-ounce Natalie. It marked her second all-natural delivery, and Gartland says she'd recommend a water labor or birth to any expecting mom who desires a natural delivery.

More and more moms are interested in water births, says Julia Lange Kessler, a certified midwife at the New York University College of Nursing Midwifery Program. "Many moms ask about the water, and will be attracted to a practice that has tubs available," she says.

Water births are a growing trend – but not a new one by any means. Gillian Christie labored in water some 23 years ago with her second daughter. "I did the water birth as my research said it was better for the baby," the Santa Barbara mom says.

"I wanted something that was gentle on the baby and natural," Christie says. "Overall it was much easier than the hospital birth I had for my first daughter in England. Both of my daughters have gone off to do wonderful things in the world – hopefully the water birth set the stage for a natural and healthy life!"

Jen Reich is a homebirth midwife and mother in Topsham, Maine, who not only helps mothers deliver in water but also had her son the same way. "As a midwife, the practice that I trained with did homebirths only, and I'd say 99 percent of them were planned water births," she says. "So I'd seen around 100 water births before I even became pregnant. Professionally speaking, I believe it's an amazing way to help a laboring woman with relaxation and pain relief. Who doesn't relax when you get into a warm bath? I've seen it dull the sensations a bit and have watched it work wonders to help a woman relax both her mind and body. Water just has a way of doing that. Sinking your belly under the water; having your midwife or partner pour warm water over your back; it can be very soothing."

Want to see more?

• Check out our Article Library.
• Waterbirth: A Gentle Birthing Choice
• The Homebirth Option: Why Are More and More Women Choosing a Homebirth?
• Having Your Baby at Home: 6 Steps Toward the Homebirth of Your Dreams
• Talk about it!