Benefits of a Water Birth
Did you know we support many women who decide to have a water birth?
Water birth is an option in some hospitals, almost all birth centers, and at home. In our experience, tubs can be incredible natural pain management tools. We encourage our clients to get into the tub when they are in active labor, typically at 6-8 centimeters, when contractions are strongest and closest together. The tub can provide amazing relief by relaxing your muscles and soothing your mind.
These are some of the benefits of a water birth:
MORE RELAXING BIRTH EXPERIENCE
Laboring in water relaxes both the body and the mind, similar to how taking a warm bath during stressful or difficult moments can help you reconnect with your body and regulate your nervous system.
SHORTER LABOR
Water’s buoyancy often makes it easier for women to shift and change positions during labor, which can help contractions progress more effectively.
Less need for pain medication
Warm water is one of the best natural pain management tools. It relaxes all the muscles in your body and often makes difficult labors more manageable. A tub is sometimes referred to as a 'midwife's epidural.
Feeling more present in the birth experience
Feeling more control and agency during birth, some women find that birthing in water allows them full autonomy over their body and birth experience. Many women even catch their own babies under the watchful eye of a nearby midwife.