Wondering About Water Birth

A Certified Doula Answers Your Water Birth Questions

By Kelly Camden, Certified Doula and Yoga Instructor

Giving birth in a pool of warm water is nothing like lying on your back in a hospital bed with people holding your legs and telling you when it's time to push. If you have you ever known a woman who has given birth in the water, you've probably heard how fabulous it was and that it was very different from her other births. If parents haven't talked with any water birth families, they may be wondering, "Why would any woman want to have a baby that way?" The following questions are commonly asked by parents who would like to know more about water birth – a safe, gentle way to welcome their baby into the world.

During a water birth, the mother is laboring in a pool of water and then pushes her baby out into the water. This pool may be a large bathtub or a temporary pool used for the birth. The midwife catches the baby and gently guides him to the mother's arms.

The emerging baby has been living in water called amniotic fluid. During the birth, the baby moves from the amniotic fluid to the water of the birth pool. Once the baby is born, he is not underwater for very long – it's a matter of seconds. Throughout this time, the baby is still receiving oxygen from his mother through the umbilical cord.

Several aspects of the newborn's physiology protect him from breathing underwater. It is not until he comes out of the water, making contact with the air, that his lungs will begin to function and he will take his first breath.

Want to see more?

• Homebirth Help: A Certified Doula Answers Common Questions on Homebirth
• Waterbirth: A Gentle Birthing Choice
• Weighing in on Water Births: Why Are Moms-to-be Choosing This Birth Method?
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