Water Birth Stories and Photo Contest!

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!!

Water Birth Supply List and Tips

By Nikiah Seeds

Congratulations!
You are planning a Water birth and the pool is the first step in getting prepared. Below are a few suggestions of what you may need that can make everything just that little bit easier.

1: It is recommended to use a NEW hose for filling your pool. It is also suggested that perhaps a garden variety hose is not the best idea, since hot water will be running through it, and it could possibly cause the release of harmful chemicals into the water. Drinking water hoses are created to be safe for hot and cold water that will be consumed; however, they are more expensive and there has been no actual testing on them for this specific reason. But it seems likely that it would be less of a problem than with a garden hose. Each mother needs to decide for herself how much of a concern this is, and which option suits her birth.

2: A tap adapter is also an important, yet simple little gadget, that is used so that the hose fits to whatever water source you will be using. You will also need an electric pump, the kind for blowing up pool toys work really well, and are easily found at Canadian Tire, Rona etc… Mama Goddess also carries complete Water Birth kits so you don’t have to run around getting everything from everywhere in town.

3: A debris net or colander. They are used for any matter that needs to be scooped out of the pool.

4: A tarp or even a cheap shower curtain works well, for under the pool as well as to put over the top to keep the water warm if the pool has been filled before the mother wants to go in.  The Aquaborn Pool comes with a lid, so this would not be necessary.

5: An electric pump is the best way to get the pools blown up fast and easily.

6: A waterproof Flashlight and a Mirror are great to use for visibility when the baby is being born, and if you are interested in capturing the big moment, a Waterproof Camera is a wonderful addition.

7: Waterproof, shoulder length gloves—can be used by the caregivers or whoever is cleaning the pool after the birth. Handy items to have for a waterbirth!

Tips:
Have your pool blown up and ready a few days before your due date, just to be on the safe side! This way you can check for holes etc…

Wash your pool out beforehand with a mild mixture of soap and water, rinse well and do not use bleach! Bleach can compromise the plastic.

Make a line of towels from the pool to the bathroom this way you can get in and out to pee if you need and don’t have to worry about the floor.

Keep the pool warm by having a big bucket near by – this way, you can take a few bucketfuls out and add more warm water easily.

The bucket will also be useful after the birth for scooping out the water— unless you live in a house that you can siphon the water out the window from without disturbing a landlord or tenants. Another option is to use a submersible utility pump with the hose. This will allow you to attach the hose to the pump, sink the pump into the water, put the other end at the emptying site (at any level) and simply plug the pump in. This option allows you to empty into a nearby toilet with ease.

After the birth, mom’s are always cold and shivery. For some reason, the amazing water properties that helped the mom before baby came out do not feel so great right after. The mother may want to get out fairly soon after baby is born because of the water cooling off. Have a warm robe or large blanket close by!

We liked having our pool close to the couch. This way we just scooted over to it and got on. For this reason, I had a plastic sheet on both bed and couch— that way I would choose either one to push on—It is all about choices!
Lots of mom’s use the pool for their whole labour and then need to get out to push. We think it may have something to do with needing to feel their feet on the earth, so often mom’s have their babies beside the birth pool!
If this should happen the towels you have set out will come in real handy!!

Congratulations and best of luck with your upcoming waterbirth!

For complete waterbirth supplies, go to http://www.mamagoddessbirthshop.com/collections/water-birth-supplies and see what your options are.  You can call us at 778-883-3514 to just ask about water birthing and different ways to approach it.  You can always ask your midwife and/or doula as well!

The Benefits of Water Birth

By Heather Hill

Considerng a waterbirth? Think about it this way…..Wouldn’t a peacful and serene birth, with a relaxed and focused mother be a wonderful way to bring a baby into this world? Having a waterbirth is an option for Mom’s who want to give birth naturally. Childbirth is such a powerful experience for a woman. But, too often, women totally give up their power and gift of childbirth over to other people to control. Having a waterbirth gives the woman a feeling of empowerment and pride in being able to choose how she delivers her child.

What about what the baby goes through? Just imagine that your little one is as cozy and warm as can be for the past 9 months. You have given that little wonder a warm and secure environment only to have him arrive in a cold, bright and noisy world. That is why waterbirthing is such a beautiful way to bring your little wonder into this world. Imagine having your baby arrive in a warm, quite, safe and inviting environment where the first touch is your arms. I can’t think of a more beautiful way to start a relationship.

The benefits of waterbirthing is so numerous… here are just a few:

• Ease the pain of labor where only 10% of mom’s ask for pain relief
• Relaxation of mom
• Can faciltate a slow labor
• Relaxed pelvic floor
• Relieve anxiety
• Empowers the mom
• Can increase blood circulation

If you decide you want to use water to help you labor, you need to have a few things in mind. The water temperature should be around your body temperature. Be careful when entering the tub and try to enter between contractions. Make sure the tub is large enough so that you can move freely and be able to change positions to what makes you feel comfortable.

Women usually enter the tub when they are about 5-8 cm dilated. Check with your caregiver, but you should not need to worry about infection if your membranes have ruptured, as long as your are following proper hygenics.

The following are some interesting statistics about waterbirths

• The women had shorter labors.

• Cervical dilatation was more efficient- 2.5 centimeters per hour compared with 1.25 centimeters per hour for mothers who did not take advantage of water during their labors.

• The descent of the babies was twice as fast.

• The women reported less pain.

• The cesarean section rate was one-third that of traditional hospital births.

• Mothers labeled “high-risk” because of high blood pressure showed a dramatic reduction in their blood pressure within minutes of immersion in the pool.

Whether you decide to just labor in water, or have an actual waterbirth, you can still take advantage of what water has to offer.

Waterbirthing can be not only a gentle way to bring your little one into the world, but as you can see, it is also a SAFE alternative. Also, remember that being educated is the most important thing you can do to keep yourself happy and healthy throughout your pregnancy.

Sears, William, Martha Sears, and Linda Hughey Holt.  The Pregnancy Book. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1997.

Heather Hill is the author of several natural childbirth articles.