Are you considering a water birth, or want to learn more about it?
At Mama Goddess, we are passionate about informing women with all the choices they have for their own births. It is not just for the spirituality-oriented or hippie types, contrary to popular belief… 
It is an option that is available for all women who want to have a positive and natural (and less painful) birth experience.
We are starting a photo contest! Please email your Water Birth Photo to us for a chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate at Mama Goddess Birth Shop. Your photo will be added to our new Photo Gallery section on the website (currently under construction) and one lucky winner will receive the gift certificate. This will the first of many photo contests. Please make sure you are okay with your photos being up on the Mama Goddess websites at mamagoddess.com and mamagoddess.ca. 
Here are what some of our Mama Goddesses say about their own water birth experiences:
“I gave birth to both of my children in a birthing tub at home (they are currently 7 and 4). Since I do not have a land birth experience to compare my experiences to, my opinion may be a little one dimensional. My first labor was a total of 12 hours, with 5 hours being active labor, and 4 of those hours in the tub. The birth itself was easier and less painful than I had expected. My second child, I was in labor a total of 5 hours, pushing for 1, and in the tub the whole hour. This birth was more painful than the first, and I blame that on the fact that I didn’t do perenial massages during my second pregnancy. The midwife was experienced with water births, and my daughter was birthed entirely into the water. I was able to scoop her up, and she didn’t cry at all. I hope to have more children one day, and I plan to birth all my babies into water. It seemed such a peaceful transition, plus it took some of the pressure of gravity off of my body.” -Luthian
“My first was by c-section, my midwife diagnosed me with pre-eclampsia, I said never Again! My second was 2 years later in the hospital with an OB, only because I was considered high risk for attemptin a VBAC, but everythin went smoothly as …I already expected. I labored over 12 hours and pushed for maybe 35 min. And my 3rd was ALL me and my husband April 2010 at home in the tub with a midwife. I labored about 3 hours around house and about 1hour 30 in tub, my husband caught our son as he swam his way out into the water:-) bein in the water does have great affects on gravity, everyone should try it at least once. But even tho my first 2 births weren’t exactlly how I would have done it I am appreciative of the experience to let others know VBACs are possible.” – Rhonda
“Love love love waterbirth! THE best pain relief and most peaceful way to meet your babe! 
” – Ebony
“My first birth was a waterbirth. When people ask me how I did it without an epidural, I tell them “the water was my drug”. It helped me relax and get in “the zone” and it definitely helped relieve the pain. Every time I had a contraction…, I would push my back against the inflated side of the tub, and it would relieve the pain I was having in my back. (For my second birth, my husband and doula had to take turns applying pressure to my back, since I didn’t have my tub.) Whenever I had to get out of the water (to get my dilation checked, for example) I hated it. I usually negotiated with my midwife to stay in “for 10 more minutes”. And I loved having the pushing and actual birth in the water, too. My son had a lot of hair, and as he was crowning, I could reach down and feel his hair “swishing” in the water. My husband sat behind me on the edge of the pool, supportin…g me under my shoulders and breathing with me through each contraction (I had a hard time shifting from “dilating breaths” to “pushing breaths”, and this helped a lot). And when I finally pushed our baby out in his entirety (with only the tiniest rip that didn’t need a single stitch), I reached down and pulled him up onto my own chest. The midwives covered him in warm towels, and I reached down to feel what sex he was and announced it to everyone in the room (my mom and in-laws came in and the very end). It was perfect.” – Michelle
“My first birth was a water birth, didn’t quite make it there the second time. The pain definitely lessened once I got in to the water. It was so relaxing, that I drifted off to sleep in-between contractions! My second labour was actually the same length (10 hours from water breaking) but I was just too warm to get in the tub when the time came. It’s great to have the option though, we had it set up and ready to go!” – Amy
Thank you for sharing your stories, beautiful mamas!!
